LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
RIVERSIDE 


r 


THE   PRINCE 


OF 


THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID; 

OR, 

THREE  YEARS  IN  THE  HOLY  CITY. 


SERIES    OF   THE    LETTERS    OF  ADINA,   A   JEWESS    OF    ALEXANDRIA, 

SUPPOSED  TO  BE  SOJOURNING  IN  JERUSALEM  IN  THE  DAYS  OF 

HEitOD,  ADDRESSED  TO  HER  FATHER,  A  WEALTHY  JEW 

IX  EGYPT, 

AND  RELATING,  AS  IF  BY  AN  EYE-WITNESS, 

ALL  THE  SCENES  AND  WONDERFUL  INCIDENTS 

Df  THE 

LIFE  OF  JESUS  OF  NAZARETH, 

FROM  HIS 

BAPTISM  IN  JORDAN  TO  HIS  CRUCIFIXION  ON  CALVARY. 


BY  REV.  J.  H.   INGRAHAM. 
at 


CHICAGO: 

M.  A.  DONOHUE  &  Co. 
407-429  DEARBORN  ST. 


P7 


M.  A.    DONOH  UE  &.  COMPANY 

PRINTERS  AND   BINDERS 

4O7.42B    DEARBORN    STREET 

CHICAGO 


-LETTERS  FROM  ADINA. 


LETTER  I. 

My  Dear  Father: — My  first  duty,  as  It  is  my 
highest  pleasure,  is  to  comply  with  your  com- 
mand to  write  you  as  soon  as  I  arrived  at  Jeru- 
salem ;  and  this  letter,  while  it  conveys  to  you  in- 
telligence of  my  arrival,  will  confirm  to  you  my 
filial  obedience. 

I  will  not  fail  to  write  you  by  every  caravan 
that  leaves  here  monthly  for  Cairo;  and  if  there 
are  more  frequent  opportunities,  my  love  for 
you,  dear  father,  and  sympathy  for  you  in  your 
separation  from  me,  will  prompt  me  to  avail  my- 
self of  them. 

My  jouney  hither  occupied  many  days,  Rabbi 
Ben  Israel  says  seventeen,  but  although  I  kept 
the  number  up  to  ten,  I  soon  became  too  weary 
to  keep  the  account.  When  we  travelled  in 
sight  of  the  sea,  which  we  did  for  three  days,  I 


14  THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

enjoyed  the  majesty  of  the  prospect,  it  seemed  so> 
like  the  sky  stretched  out  upon  the  earth.  I 
also  had  the  good  fortune  to  see  several  barges, 
which  the  Rabbi,  who  was  always  ready  to  grat- 
ify my  thirst  for  information,  informed  me  were 
Roman  galleys,  bound  some  to  Sidon  and  others 
into  the  Nile;  and  after  one  of  these  latter,  as  it 
was  going  to  you,  I  sent  a  prayer  and  a  wish. 
Just  as  we  were  leaving  the  seashore  to  turn  off 
into  the  desert,  I  saw  a  wrecked  vessel.  It  looked 
EO  helpless  and  bulky, with  its  huge  black  bodyall 
out  of  the  water,  that  it  seemed  to  me  like  a  great 
sea-monster,  the  Behemoth,  stranded  and  dying; 
and  I  felt  like  pitying  it.  The  Rabbi  gave  me  to 
understand  that  it  had  come  from  Alexandria, 
laden  with  wheat,  bound  for  Italia,  and  been  cast 
ashore  in  a  storm.  How  terrible  a  tempest  must 
be  upon  the  sea!  I  was  in  hopes  to  have  seen  a 
Leviathan,  but  was  not  gratified  in  the  wish.  The 
good  Rabbi,  who  seemed  to  know  all  things, 
told  me  that  they  seldom  appear  now  in  the  Mid- 
dle Sea,  but  are  seen  beyond  the  pillar  of  Her- 
cules at  the  world's  end. 

At  Gaza  we  stopped  two  days.  We  entered 
the  gateway  of  which  Samson  ca.ried  away  the 
gates,  and  I  was  shown  the  hill  two  miles  to  the 
south-east  where  he  left  them.  Many  other 
places  of  interest  were  shown  me,  especially  the 
field,  which  our  path  led  across,  where  he  put  to 
flight  the  Philistine  hosts  with  much  slaughter. 
A  lion's  cave  was  also  pointed  out  to  me,  out  of 
which  came  the  lion  which  Samson  slew,  andj 
upon  which  he  made  his  famous  riddles. 


THE  PRINCE  OF  *K1E  HOUSE  OP  DAVID.  15 

The  dry  well  into  which  the  ten  Patriarchs 
lowered  the  Prince  Joseph,  their  brother,  was 
also  shown  me  by  our  Arab  guide,  and  the  rock 
on  which  the  Ishmaelites  told  down  the  pieces 
of  silver.  I  fancied  the  old  Arab  related  the  oc- 
currence with  more  elation  than  was  needful,  as 
if  he  took  pride  in  perpetrating  the  fact  that  our 
noble  ancestor  had  once  been  the  purchased 
slave  of  theirs.  I  noticed,  several  times  during 
the  journey,  that  the  Ishmaelites  of  Edom  in  our 
caravan  took  every  occasion  to  elevate  their  own 
race  to  the  disparagement  of  the  sons  of  Israel; 
indeed,  Aben  Hussuff,  our  white-bearded  chief 
of  the  caravan,  in  a  wordy  discussion  with  Rabbi 
Ben  Israel  at  Isaac's  well,  where  we  encamped, 
would  have  it  that  Isaac  was  the  son  of  the  bond- 
woman, and  Ishmael  the  true  heir,  but  disinher- 
ited and  cast  out  through  the  wiles  of  the  bond- 
woman, who  would  have  her  own  son  the 
inheritor.  But,  of  course,  I  was  too  well 
instructed  in  the  history  of  my  fathers  to  give 
heed  to  such  a  fable;  though  the  Arabs  all  took 
part  with  their  chief,  and  contended  for  the  truth 
of  what  he  asserted  as  warmly  and  zealously  as 
the  learned  Rabbi  did  for  the  truth  of  his  own 
side. 

The  morning  of  the  last  day  of  our  journey  we 
caught  sight  of  the  Sea  of  Sodom  and  Gomor- 
rah, at  a  great  distance  to  the  east.  How  my 
pulse  quickened  at  beholding  that  fearful  spot  so 
marked  by  the  wrath  of  Jehovah!  I  seemed  to 
see  in  imagination  the  heavens  on  fire  above  it, 
and  the  flames  and  smoke  ascending  as  from  a 


16  THS  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

I 

great  furnace,  as  on  that  fearful  day  when  they 
were  destroyed,  with  all  that  beautiful  surround- 
ing plain,  which  we  are  told  was  one  vast  garden 
of  beauty.  How  calm  and  still  lay  now  that 
sluggish  sea  beneath  a  cloudless  sky!  We  held 
it  in  sight  many  hours,  and  once  caught  a 
glimpse  of  the  Jordan  north  of  it,  looking  like  a 
silver  thread;  yet,  near  as  it  appeared  to  be,  I  was 
told  it  was  a  good  day's  journey  for  a  camel  to 
reach  its  shores. 

After  losing  sight  of  this  melancholy  lake,  the 
glassy  sepulchre  of  cities  and  their  countless 
dwellers,  our  way  lay  along  a  narrow  valley  for 
sometime,  when,  all  at  once,  on  reaching  an 
eminence,  Jerusalem  appeared,  like  a  city  risen 
out  of  the  earth,  it  stood  before  us  so  unexpect- 
edly; for  we  were  still,  as  it  were,  in  the  desert; 
yet  so  near  on  the  side  of  our  approach  does  the 
desert  advance  to  its  walls,  that  it  was  not  two 
miles  off  when  we  beheld  it. 

I  cannot,  my  dear  father,  describe  to  you  my 
emotions  on  beholding  the  Holy  City!  They 
have  been  experienced  by  millions  of  our  people 
— they  were  similar  to  your  own  as  you  related 
them  to  me.  All  the  past,  with  its  mighty  men 
•who  walked  with  Jehovah,  came  up  to  my  mind, 
overpowering  me  with  the  amazing  weight. 
The  whole  history  of  the  sacred  place  rushed  to 
my  memory,  and  compelled  me  to  bow  my  head,, 
and  worship  and  adore  at  the  sight  of  the 
Temple,  where  God  once  (alas,  why  does  He  no 
longer  visit  earth  and  His  Holy  House?)  dwelt 
in  the  flaming  Shechinah,  and  made  known  the 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  17 

\ 

oracles  of  His  will.  I  could  see  the  smoke  of  the 
evening  sacrifice  ascending  to  the  skies,  and  I 
inwardly  prayed  Jehovah  to  accept  it  for  thee 
and  me. 

As  we  approached  the  city  several  interesting 
spots  were  pointed  out  to  me,  and  I  was 
bewildered  with  the  familiar  and  sacred 
localities  which  I  had  known  hitherto  only  by 
reverential  reading  of  the  Prophets.  It  seemed 
to  me  that  I  was  living  in  the  days  of  Isaiah  and 
Jeremiah,  as  places  associated  with  their  names 
were  shown  me,  rather  than  in  the  generation  to 
which  I  properly  belong.  Indeed,  I  have  lived 
only  in  the  past  the  three  days  I  have  been  in 
Jerusalem,  constantly  consulting  the  sacred 
historians  to  compare  places  and  scenes  with 
their  accounts,  and  so  verify  each  with  a  holy 
awe  and  inward  delight  that  must  be  felt  to  be 
understood;  but,  dear  father,  you  have  yourself 
experienced  all  this,  and  therefore  can  under- 
stand my  emotions. 

We  entered  the  city  just  before  the  sixth  hour 
of  the  evening,  and  were  soon  at  the  house  of 
our  relative  Amos,  the  Levite.  I  was  received 
as  if  I  had  a  daughter's  claim  to  their  embraces; 
and  with  the  luxuries  with  which  they  surround- 
ed me  in  my  gorgeously  furnished  apartments,  I 
yam  sure  they  meant  to  tempt  me  to  forget  the 
joys  of  the  dear  home  I  had  left. 

The  Rabbi  Amos  and  his  family  all  desire  to  be 
commended  to  you.  As  it  is  his  course  to  serve 
in  the  Temple,  I  do  not  see  much  of  him,  but  he 
seems  to  be  a  man  of  piety  and  benevolence,  and) 


18  THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

greatly  loves  his  children.  I  have  been  once  to 
the  Temple.  Its  outer  court  seemed  like  a  vast 
caravansera  or  market-place,  being  thronged 
with  the  men  who  sell  animals  for  sacrifice, 
which  crowded  all  parts.  Thousands  of  doves 
an  large  cages  were  sold  on  one  side,  and  on 
another  were  stalls  for  lambs,  sheep,  calves,  and 
oxen,  the  noise  and  bleating  of  which,  with  the 
confusion  of  tongues,  made  the  place  appear  like 
anything  else  than  the  Temple  of  Jehovah.  It 
appears  like  desecration  to  use  the  Temple  thus, 
dear  father,  and  seems  to  show  a  want  of  that 
holy  awe  of  God's  house  that  once  characterized 
our  ancestors.  I  was  glad  to  get  safely  through 
the  Bazaar,  which,  on  the  plea  of  selling  to  sacri- 
ficers  victims  for  the  altar,  allows,  under  color 
thereof,  every  other  sort  of  traffic.  On  reaching 
the  women's  court  I  was  sensible  of  being  in  the 
Temple,  by  the  magnificence  which  surrounded 
me.  With  what  awe  I  bowed  my  head  in  the 
direction  of  the  Holy  of  Holies!  I  never  felt 
before  so  near  to  God!  Clouds  of  incense 
floated  above  the  heads  of  the  multitude,  and 
rivers  of  blood  flowed  down  the  marble  steps  of 
the  altar  of  burnt  offering.  Alas !  how  many  in- 
nocent victims  bleed  every  morning  and  evening 
for  the  sins  of  Israel!  What  a  sea  of  blood  has 
been  poured  out  in  the  ages  that  have  passed! 
What  a  strange,  fearful  mystery,  that  the  blood 
of  an  innocent  lamb  should  atone  for  sins  I  have 
done!  There  must  be  some  deeper  meaning  in 
these  sacrifices,  dear  father,  yet  unrevealed  to  us. 
As  I  was  returning  from  the  Temple  I  met 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.  19 

many  persons  walking  and  riding,  who  seemed 
to  be  crowded  out  of  the  gate  on  some  unusual 
errand.  I  have  since  learned  that  there  is  a  very 
extraordinary  man — a  true  prophet  of  God,  it  is 
believed  by  many,  who  dwells  in  the  wilderness, 
fifteen  miles  eastward,  near  Jordan,  and  who 
preaches  with  power  unknown  in  the  land  since 
the  days  of  Elijah  and  Elisha.  It  is  to  see  and 
listen  to  this  prophet  that  so  many  persons  are 
daily  going  out  from  Jerusalem.  He  lives  in  a 
cave,  feeds  on  plants  or  wild  honey,  and  drinks 
only  water,  while  his  clothing  is  the  skin  of  a 
lion;  at  least,  such  is  the  report.  I  hope  he  is  a 
true  prophet  of  Heaven,  and  that  God  is  once 
more  about  to  remember  Israel ;  but  the  days  of 
the  Prophets  have  long  passed  away,  and  I  fear 
this  man  is  only  an  enthusiast;  but  his  influence 
over  all  who  listen  to  him  is  so  remarkable,  that 
it  would  seem,  and  one  has  almost  the  courage 
to  believe,  that  he  is  really  endowed  with  the 
Spirit  of  the  Prophets. 

Farewell,  dear  father,  and  let  us  ever  pray  for 
th-s  glory  of  Israel.    .Your  affectionate 

ADINA. 


LETTER  IT. 

My  Dear  Father: — The  excellent  Rabbi,  Ben 
Israel,  has  just  made  known  to  me  his  intention 
of  returning  to  Egypt  to-morrow,  and  has  wait- 
ed upon  me,  to  inquire  if  I  had  any  commands 
to  entrust  him  with,  for  my  friends  in  Alexan- 
dria. Instead  of  this  letter,  which  he  will  be  the 
bearer  of  to  you,  I  would  rather  commit  myself  a 
second  time  to  his  care,  and  instead  of  placing 
this  parchment  in  your  hand,  let  him  lay  your 
child  again  upon  your  bosom.  But  it  is  by  your 
wish,  dear  father,  that  I  am  here,  and  th&ugh  I 
sigh  to  behold  you  once  more,  I  will  try  to  be 
content  in  my  absence  from  you,  knowing  that 
my  discontent  would  cause  sorrow  to  bow  down 
your  gray  hairs. 

So  far  as  a  daughter  can  be  happy  from  the 
home  of  her  youth,  I  have  everything  to  render 
me  so.  The  good  Rabbi  Amos  in  his  kindness 
recalls  your  own  mild  and  dignified  countenance, 
and  Rebecca,  his  noble  wife,  my  cousin,  is  truly; 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID  21 

a  mother  in  Israel.  Her  daughter  Mary,  my 
younger  cousin,  in  her  affectionate  attachment 
to  me,  shows  me  how  much  love  I  have  lost  in 
never  having  had  a  sister.  It  is  altogether  a 
lovely  household,  and  I  am  favored  by  the  God 
of  our  fathers  in  having  my  lot,  during  my  exile 
from  my  home  on  the  banks  of  the  beautiful 
Nile,  cast  in  so  peaceful  and  holy  a  domestic 
sanctuary. 

The  strget  in  which  we  dwell  is  elevated,  and 
from  the  roof  of  the  house,  where  I  love  to  walk 
in  the  evening,  watching  the  stars  that  hang  over 
Egypt,  there  is  commanded  a  wide  prospect  of 
the  Holy  City.  The  stupendous  Temple,  with 
its  terraces  piled  on  terraces  of  dazzling  marble, 
with  its  glittering  fountains  shooting  upward 
like  palm  trees  of  liquid  silver,  with  its  massive 
yet  beautiful  walls  and  towers,  is  ever  in  full 
sight.  The  golden  arc,  that  spans  the  door  which 
leads  into  the  Holy  of  Holies,  as  it  catches  the 
sunbeams  of  morning,  burns  like  a  celestial  cor- 
onet with  an  unearthly  glory.  I  dare  not  gaze 
steadily  upon  that  holy  place,  or  imagine  the 
blinding  splendor  within,  of  the  visible  presence 
of  Jehovah,  in  the  Shechinah  once  present  there. 

Yesterday  morning  I  was  early  on  the  house- 
top, to  behold  the  first  cloud  of  the  day-dawn 
sacrifice  rise  from  the  bosom  of  the  Temple. 
When  I  had  turned  my  gaze  towards  the  sacred 
summit,  I  was  awed  by  the  profound  silence 
\vhich  reigned  over  the  vast  pile  that  crowned 
iMount  Moriah.  The  sun  was  not  yet  risen;  but 
the  east  blushed  with  a  roseate  purple,  and  the 


22  THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

morning  star  was  melting  into  its  depths.  Not 
a  sound  broke  the  stillness  of  the  hundred  streets 
within  the  walls  of  Jerusalem.  Night  and  si- 
lence still  held  united  empire  over  the  city  and 
the  altar  of  God.  I  was  awe-silent.  I  stood 
with  my  hands  crossed  upon  my  bosom  and  nty 
head  reverently  bowed,  for  in  the  absence  of  man 
and  his  voice  I  believed  angels  were  all  around 
in  heavenly  hosts,  the  guardian  armies  of  this 
wondrous  city  of  David.  Lances  of  light  now 
shot  upwards  and  across  the  purple  sea  in  the 
east,  and  fleeces  of  clouds,  that  reposed  upon  it 
like  barks,  catching  the  red  rays  of  the  yet  un- 
risen  sun,  blazed  like  burning  ships.  Each 
moment  the  darkness  fled,  and  the  splendor  of 
the  dawn  increased;  and  when  each  instant  I  ex- 
pected to  see  the  sun  appear  over  the  battl&- 
mented  heights  of  Mount  Moriah,  I  was  thrilled 
by  the  startling  peal  of  the  trumpets  of  the 
priests:  a  thousand  silver  trumpets  blown  at 
once  from  the  walls  of  the  Temple,  and  shaking 
the  very  foundation  of  the  city  with  their  mighty 
voice.  Instantly  the  house-tops  everywhere 
around  were  alive  with  worshipers!  Jerusalem 
started,  as  one  man,  from  its  slumbers,  and,  with 
their  faces  towards  the  Temple,  a  hundred  thous-1, 
and  men  of  Israel  stood  waiting.  A  secondi 
trumpet-peal,  clear  and  musical  as  the 
voice  of  God  when  He  spake  to  our 
father  Moses  in  Horeb,  caused  every  knee 
to  bend,  and  every  tongue  to  join  in 
the  morning  song  of  praise.  The  murmur  of 
voices  was  like  the  continuous  roll  of  the  surge 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  UAVID.  28 

upon  the  beach,  and  the  walls  of  the  lofty  Tem- 
ple, like  the  cliff,  echoed  it  back.  Unused  to 
this  scene,  for  we  have  nothing  like  this  majesty 
of  worship  in  Alexandria,  I  stood  rather  as  a 
spectator  than  a  sharer,  as  it  became  thy 
daughter  to  have  been,  dear  father.  Simul- 
taneously with  the  billow-like  swell  of  the 
adoring  hymn,  I  beheld  a  pillar  of  black 
smoke  ascend  from  the  midst  of  the 
Temple,  and  spread  itself  above  the  court 
like  a  canopy.  It  was  accompanied  by  a  blue 
wreath  of  lighter  and  more  misty  appearance, 
which  threaded  in  and  out,  and  entwined  about 
the  other,  like  a  silvery  strand  woven  into  a  sable 
cord.  This  latter  was  the  smoke  of  the  incense 
which  accompanied  the  burnt  sacrifice.  As  I 
saw  it  rise  higher  and  higher,  and  finally  over- 
top the  heavy  cloud,  which  was  instantly  en- 
larged by  volumes  of  dense  smoke  that  rolled 
upward  from  the  consuming  victim,  and  slowly 
disappeared,  melting  into  heaven,  I  also  kneeled, 
remembering  that  on  the  wings  of  the  incense 
went  up  the  prayers  of  the  people;  and  ere  it 
dissolved  wholly,  I  entrusted  to  it,  dear  father, 
prayers  for  thee  and  me! 

How  wonderful  is  our  religion!  How  mys- 
terious this  daily  sacrifice,  so  many  hundreds 
of  years  offered  up  for  the  sins  of  our  fathers  and 
of  ourselves!  How,  I  have  often  asked  myself 
since  I  have  been  here,  how  can  the  blood  of  a 
heifer,  of  a  lamb,  or  of  a  goat,  take  away  sins? 
What  is  the  mysterious  relation  existing  be- 
tween us  and  these  dumb  and  innocent  brutes? 


24  THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

How  can  a  lamb  stand  for  a  man  before  God? 
The  more  I  reflect  upon  this  awful  subject,  the 
more  I  am  lost  in  wonder.  I  have  spoken  to 
Rabbi  Amos  of  these  things,  but  he  only  smiles, 
and  bids  me  think  about  my  embroidery;  for 
cousin  Mary  and  I  are  working  a  rich  gold 
border  in  the  phylactery  of  his  next  New  Year's 
garment. 

The  evening  sacrifice,  which  I  witnessed  yes- 
terday, is,  if  possible,  more  imposing  than  that  of 
the  morning.  Just  as  the  sun  dips  beyond  the 
hill  of  Gibeah,  overhanging  the  valley  of  Aijalon, 
there  is  heard  a  prolonged  note  of  a  trumpet 
blown  from  one  of  the  western  watch-towers  of 
Zion.  Its  mellow  tones  reach  the  farthest  ear 
within  the  gates  of  the  city.  All  labor  at  once 
ceases!  Every  man  drops  the  instrument  of 
his  toil,  and  raises  his  face  towards  the  summit 
of  the  house  of  God.  A  deep  pause,  as  if  all 
held  their  breath  in  expectation,  succeeds.  Sud- 
denly the  very  skies  seem  to  be  riven,  and  shak- 
en with  the  thunder  of  the  company  of  trumpet- 
ers that  rolls,  wave  on  wave  of  sound,  from  the 
battlements  of  the  Temple.  The  dark  cloud  of 
sacrifice  ascends  in  solemn  grandeur,  and  some- 
times heavier  than  the  evening  air,  falls  like  a 
descending  curtain  around  the  Mount,  till  the 
whole  is  veiled  from  sight;  but  above  it  is  seen 
to  soar  the  purer  incense  to  the  invisible  Jeho- 
vah, followed  by  a  myriad  eyes,  and  the  utter- 
ance of  a  nation's  prayers.  As  the  daylight 
faded,  the  light  of  the  altar,  hidden  from  us  by 
the  lofty  walls  of  the  outer  <:ourt  of  the  Temple, 


THE   IRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OP   DAVID.  25 

blazed  high  and  beacon-like,  and  lent  a  wild  sub- 
limity to  the  towers  and  pinnacles  that  crowned 
Moriah. 

There  was,  however,  my  dear  father,  last  even- 
ing1, one  thing  which  painfully  marred  the  holy 
character  of  the  sacred  hour.  After  the  blast  of 
the  silver  trumpets  of  the  Levites  had  ceased, 
and  while  all  hearts  and  eyes  were  ascending  to 
Jehovah  with  the  mounting  wreaths  of  incense, 
there  came  from  the  Roman  castle  adjoining  the 
City  of  David  a  loud  martial  clangor  of  brazen 
bugles,  and  other  barbarian  war-instrunrents  of 
music,  while  a  smoke,  like  the  smoke  of  sacrifice, 
rose  from  the  height  of  David's  fortified  hill.  I 
was  told  that  it  was  the  Romans  engaged  in  wor- 
shiping Jupiter,  their  idol  God!  Oh,  when, 
when  shall  the  Holy  City  be  freed  from  the  re- 
proach of  the  stranger!  Alas,  for  Israel!  Her 
inheritance  "is  turned  to  strangers,  and  her 
houses  to  aliens."  Well  said  Jeremiah  the 
Prophet,  "The  kings  of  the  earth  and  all  the  in- 
habitants of  the  world  would  not  have  believed 
that  the  adversary  and  the  enemy  should  have 
entered  into  the  gates  of  Jerusalem."  How  truly 
now  are  the  prophecies  fulfilled,  which  are  to  be 
found  in  the  Lamentations:  "The  Lord  hath 
cast  off  His  altar,  He  hath  given  up  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy  the  walls  of  her  palaces:  they 
have  made  a  noise  in  the  house  of  the  Lord,  as  in 
the  day  of  a  solemn  feast."  For  these  things  I 
weep,  my  dear  father;  even  now,  while  I  write, 
my  tears  drop  on  the  parchment.  Why  is  it  so? 
Why  does  Jehovah  suffer  the  adversary  to  dwell' 


26  THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

within  his  holy  walls,  and  the  smoke  of  his  abom- 
inable sacrifices  to  mingle  with  that  of  the  offer- 
ings of  the  consecrated  priests  of  the  Most  High? 
Surely,  Israel  has  sinned,  and  we  are  punished 
for  our  transgressions.     It  becomes  the  land/'' 
search  and  try  its  ways  and  turn  unto  God,''  .x 
perhaps  He  will  return  and  have  mercy,  and, 
store  the  glory  of  Israel.     Our  kings  are  the  $<:•: 
vants  of  the  Gentiles.     Our  laws  are  no  moie. 
Our  prophets  no  longer  see  visions.     God,jias 
gone  up  in  anger,  and  no  longer  holds  disco 
with  his  chosen  people.     The  very  smoke  of, 
daily  sacrifice  seems  to  hang  above  the  Tempi 
like  a  cloud  of  Jehovah's  wrath. 

Nearly  three  hundred  years  have  passed  since 
we  have  had  a  prophet — that  divine  and  youth- 
ful Malachi!  Since  his  day,  Rabbi  Amos  con- 
fesses that  Jehovah  has  ceased  from  all  known 
intercourse  with  his  people  and  holy  house;  nor 
has  He  made  any  sign  of  having  heard  the  pray- 
ers or  heeded  the  sarifices  that  have  been  offered 
to  Him  in  His  time!  I  inquired  of  the  intelli- 
gent Rabbi,  if  this  would  always  be  thus?  He 
icplied,  that  when  Shiloh  came  there  would  be  a 
restoration  of  all  things — that  the  glory  of  Jeru- 
"salem  then  would  fill  the  whole  earth  with  the 
splendor  of  the  sun,  and  that  all  nations  should 
come  up  from  the  ends  of  the  world  to  worship 
in  the  Temple.  He  acknowledges  that  we  ar. 
now  under  a  cloud  for  our  sins;  but  that  a 
brighter  day  is  coming  when  Zion  shall  be  the 
joy  of  the  whole  earth.  ,s 

My    conversation    with'    Rabbi    Amos/  clear 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  27 

father,  a  conversation  which  grew  out  of  the  sub- 
ject of  the  Roman  garrison  occupying  the  cita- 
del of  David,  and  offering  their  pagan  sacrifices 
by  the  side  of  our  own  smoking  altars,  led  me  to 
examine  the  Book  of  the  Prophet  Malachi.  I 
find  that  after  plainly  alluding  to  our  present 
shame,  and  reproaching  the  priests  "for  causing 
the  people  to  stumble,"  and  thus  making  them- 
selves "contemptible  and  base  before  all  na- 
•":ons,"  he  thus  prophesies:  "Behold,  I  will 
;Vend  my  messenger,  and  he  will  prepare  the  way 
"before  me,  and  the  Lord  whom  ye  seek  shall  sud- 
denly  come  to  his  Temple;  and  he  shall  sit  as  a 
refiner  and  purifier  of  silver,  and  he  shall  purify 
the  sons  of  Levi,  and  purge  them  as  gold  and 
silver,  that  they  may  offer  unto  the  Lord  an 
offering  in  righteousness.  Behold,"  adds  the 
divine  seer,  "I  will  send  you  Elijah  the  prophet 
before  the  coming  of  the  great  and  dreadful  day 
of  the  Lord." 

These  words  I  read  to-day  to  Rabbi  Amos — 
indeed,  I  was  reading  them  when  Rabbi  Ben 
Israel  came  in  to  say  that  he  departs  to-morrow. 
The  excellent  Amos  looked  grave,  graver  than  I 
had  ever  seen  him  look.  I  feared  that  I  had 
offended  him  by  my  boldness,  and,  approaching 
him,  was  about  to  embrace  him,  when  I  saw 
tears  were  sparkling  in  his  eyes.  This  discovery 
deeply  affected  me,  you  may  be  assured,  dear 
father;  and,  troubled  more  to  have  grieved  than 
displeased  him,  I  was  about  to  ask  his  forgive- 
ness for  intruding  these  sacred  subjects  upon  his 
notice,  when  he  took  my  hand,  nnd  smiling, 


28  THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

while  a  glittering  drop  danced  down  his  snow- 
white  beard  and  broke  into  liquid  diamonds 
upon  my  hand,  he  said,  "You  have  done  no 
"wrong,  child:  sit  down  by  me  and  be  at  peace 
with  thyself.  It  is  too  true,  in  this  day,  what  the 
Prophet  Malachi  writeth,  Ben  Israel,"  he  said, 
sadly,  to  the  Alexandrian  Rabbi:  "The  priests  of 
the  Temple  have  indeed  become  corrupt,  save 
the  few  here  and  there!  It  must  have  been  at 
this  day  the  Prophet  aimed  his  words.  Save  in 
the  outward  form,  I  fear  the  great  body  of  our 
Levites  have  little  more  true  religion  and  just 
knowledge  of  the  one  God  Jehovah,  than  the 
priests  of  the  Romish  idolatry!  Alas,  I  fear  me, 
God  regards  our  sacrifices  with  no  more  favor 
than  He  looks  upon  theirs!  To-day,  while  I 
was  in  the  Temple,  and  was  serving  at  the  altar 
with  the  priests,  these  words  of  Isaiah  came  into 
my  thoughts  and  would  not  be  put  aside:  'To 
what  purpose  is  the  multitude  of  your  sacrifices 
unto  me?  '  saith  the  Lord;  'I  am  full  of  the  burnt 
offerings  of  rams,  and  the  fat  of  fed  beasts;  and 
I  delight  not  in  the  blood  of  bullocks,  or  of 
lambs,  or  of  he  goats.  Bring  no  more  vain  obla- 
tions; incense  is  an  abomination  unto  me;  I  am 
weary  to  bear  them;  yea,  when  ye  spread  forth 
your  hands  I  will  hide  mine  eyes  from  you; 
yea,  when  ye  make  many  prayers  I  will  not  hear ; 
your  hands  are  full  of  blood !  Wash  you ;  make 
you  clean.  Cease  to  do  evil;  learn  to  do  well! ' 
"These  terrible  words  of  the  prophet,"  added 
Rabbi  Amos,  addressing  the  amazed  Ben  Israel, 
"were  not  out  of  my  mind  while  I  was  in  the 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.     29 

Temple.  They  seemed  to  be  thundered  in  my 
ears  by  a  voice  from  heaven.  Several  of  the 
younger  priests,  whose  levity  during  the  sacrifice 
had  been  reproved  by  me,  seeing  me  sad,  asked 
the  cause.  In  reply,  I  repeated,  with  a  voice 
that  seemed  to  myself  to  be  inspired,  the  words 
of  the  prophet.  They  turned  pale  and  trembled, 
and  thus  I  left  them." 

"I  have  noticed,"  said  Ben  Israel,  "that  there 
is  less  reverence  now  in  the  Temple  than  when 
I  was  in  Jerusalem  a  young  man;  but  I  find  that 
the  magnificence  of  the  ceremonies  is  increased." 

"Yes,"  responded  Ben  Amos,  with  a  look  of 
sorrow;  "yes>  as  the  soul  of  piety  dies  out  from 
within,  they  gild  the  outside.  The  increased 
richness  of  the  worship  is  copied  from  the 
Roman.  So  low  are  we  fallen!  Our  worship, 
with  all  its  gorgeousness,  is  as  a  sepulchre  white- 
washed to  conceal  the  rottenness  within!" 

You  may  be  convinced,  my  dear  father,  that 
this  confession,  from  such  a  source,  deeply 
humbled  me.  If,  then,  we  are  not  worshiping 
God,  what  do  we  worship?  If  Jehovah  of  Hosts, 
the  God  of  our  Fathers,  Abraham,  Isaac,  and 
Jacob,  hides  his  face  from  our  sacrifices,  and  is 
weary  with  our  incense,  whom  does  Israel  wor- 
ship? NOUGHT!  We  are  worse  off  than  our 
barbarian  conquerors,  for  we  have  no  God;  while 
they,  at  least,  have  gods  many  and  lords  many, 
such  as  they  are!  Alas,  alas,  the  time  of  the 
judgment  of  Jerusalem  seems  to  be  at  hand. 
The  Lord  must  suddenly  come  to  his  Temple, 
and  as  a  refiner!  I  am  deeply  impressed  with. 


30  THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

the  conviction  that  the  day  is  very  near  at  hand! 
Perhaps  we  shall  see  it  in  our  lifetime,  dear 
father! 

Since  writing  the  last  line  I  have  been  inter- 
rupted by  Mary,  who  has  brought  to  see  me  a 
youth,  son  of  a  noble  Jewish  ruler,  who  was  slain 
by  the  Romans  for  his  patriotic  devotion  to  his 
country.  He  dwells  near  the  Gaza  gate,  with 
his  widowed  mother,  who  is  a  noble  lady,  hon- 
ored by  all  lips  that  discourse  of  her.  Between 
this  young  man  and  Mary  there  exists  a  beauti- 
ful attachment,  not  ardent  enough  to  be  love, 
but  sincere  enough  for  the  purest  friendship;  yet 
each  day  their  friendship  is  ripening  into  the 
deepest  emotion.  He  has  just  returned  from 
the  vicinity  of  Jericho,  where  he  has  been  for 
some  days  past,  drawn  thither  by  curiosity,  to 
see  and  hear  the  new  prophet,  alluded  to  by  me 
at  the  close  of  my  last  letter,  whose  fame  has 
spread  far  and  wide,  and  who  is  drawing  thous- 
ands into  the  wilderness,  to  listen  to  the  elo- 
quence that  flows  from  his  mouth.  The  young 
man  had  been  giving  Mary  so  interesting  an 
account  of  him  that  she  desired  me  also  to  be  a 
listener!  In  my  next  I  will  write  you  all  I  heard ; 
and  I,  trust,  dear  father,  you  will  patiently  bear 
with  me  in  all  things;  and  believe  that,  however 
I  may,  from  the  investigating  character  of  my 
mind,  venture  upon  sacred  mysteries,  I  shall 
never  be  less  a  lover  of  the  God  of  our  Father 
Abraham,  nor  less  the  affectionate  and  devoted 
iAdina  to  thee!  Adieu. 

ADINA. 


LETTER  III. 

My  Dear  Father: — This  morning,  as  I  was 
coming  from  the  Temple,  whither  I  had  gone  to 
worship  and  witness  the  imposing  ceremony  of 
the  presentation  of  the  First  Fruits,  I  noticed  a 
vast  pile  of  edifices  crowning  the  opposite  rock, 
which  I  was  told  was  the  Tower  of  Antonia.  It 
seemed  to  frown  sternly  down  upon  the  Temple; 
and  upon  its  battlements  glittered,  at  intervals, 
numerous  Roman  eagles.  I  had  so  often  heard 
you  relate  historical  events  connected  with  this 
celebrated  castle,  that  I  regarded  it  with  peculiar 
interest.  You,  who  had  so  frequently  de- 
scribed it  to  me,  seemed  to  stand  by  my  side  as  I 
gazed  upon  it.  The  four  towers,  one  at  each 
corner,  are  still  as  they  stood  when  you  fought 
from  the  northernmost  one,  and  defended  it 
single-handed  against  the  Romans.  But  now 
these  barbarians  throng  its  courts',  and  their 
bugles,  which  have  sounded  from  the  conquered 
walls  of  every  land  on  earth,  are  even  heard  in 
the  ears  of  the  citizens  of  Jerusalem.  The  inso- 
lence and  power  of  the  Roman  garrison  have 


82     THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

made  the  beautiful  walk  about  the  base  of  the 
Tower  almost  deserted;  but  of  this  I  was  not 
aware;  and,  attended  only  by  my  Ethiopian 
slave,  Onia,  I  lingered  to  admire  the  splendor  of 
the  cloister  once  surrounding  the  treasure-house 
of  the  Temple,  with  its  terraces  supported  by 
white  marble  pillars,  fifteen  cubits  high,  when 
two  Roman  soldiers  coming  from  one  of  the  city 
gates,  approached  me  on  their  vray  back  to  the 
castle.  It  was  then  that  I  saw  I  was  alone,  the 
company  who  had  left  the  temple  with  me  being 
gone  far  in  advance  of  me.  I  drew  my  veil 
closely,  and  would  have  passed  them  with  a 
rapid  step,  when  one  of  them  placed  himself  in 
my  path,  and  catching  hold  of  my  veil,  tried  to 
detain  me.  I  left  it  in  his  grasp  and  was  flying, 
when  the  other  soldier  arrested  me.  This  was  in 
full  view  of  the  castle,  and  at  my  shrieks  the  bar- 
barians in  the  castle  laughed  aloud.  At  this 
crisis  appeared  a  young  Centurion,  who  was  on 
horseback,  coming  down  the  rocky  path  that 
ascends  the  Rock  of  Zion,  and  calling  aloud  to 
them,  he  galloped  forward,  and  with  his  sword 
put  the  men,  who  were  drunk  with  wine,  to 
immediate  flight,  and  rescued  me,  at  the  same 
lime  sending  the  two  soldiers  under  arrest  into 
the  castle.  He  then  addressed  me  in  the  gen- 
tlest manner,  and  apologized  for  the  rudeness  I 
had  met  with  at  the  hands  of  his  men,  saying  that 
they  should  be  severely  dealt  with.  I  was  struck 
with  his  manly  beauty,  his  civility,  and  his  air  of 
patrician  command,  although  he  could  not  have 
been  more  than  eight  and  twenty,  In  order  to 


THE   PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  33> 

escort  me  safely  to  the  streets  below,  he  alighted 
from  his  horse,  and  leading  him  by  the  rein, 
walked  by  my  side.  I  confess  to  you,  dear 
father,  I  had  not  reached  the  hottse  of  my  relativ* 
before  my  prejudices  against  the  Romans  were 
greatly  modified.  I  had  found  in  one  of  them  as 
courteous  a  person  as  I  had  ever  met  with. 
among  my  own  countrymen,  and  for  his  sake  I 
was  willing  to  think  better  of  his  barbaric  land 
and  people.  He  saw  through  my  prejudices,  and 
how  I  shrunk  from  him  as  he  walked  by  me ;  and 
while  we  descended  the  height,  he  spoke  elo- 
quently in  defence  of  his  native  land,  of  its  fair 
daughters,  of  its  wise  men,  its  brave  chiefs,  its 
power  and  glory,  and  its  dominion  over  the 
whole  earth! 

When  I  heard  him  use  these  last  words,  I 
sighed  deeply,  for  Judah,  it  is  prophesied,  should 
have  dominion  over  the  whole  earth,  and*these 
Romans,  therefore,  hold  the  dominion  that  right- 
fully belongs  to  our  people.  How  is  this,  dear 
father?  How  is  it  that  these  barbaric  men  are 
permitted  by  Jehovah  to  hold  the  sceptre  that  is 
the  rightful  heritage  of  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of 
Judah?  How  many  times  in  a  day,  since  I  have 
been  in  Jerusalem,  have  I  been  reminded  of  the 
degradations  of  my  people?  How  is  it  that  these 
enemies  of  Jehovah,  these  worshipers  of  false 
gods,  stand  in  the  Holy  place,  and  usurp  the 
power  that  God  has  given  to  us? 

I  put  these  questions  to  Amos,  the  good 
priest,  after  I  had  returned  home;  for  my  ac- 
count of  my  adventure  naturally  led  to  a  conver- 


34  THE  PRINCE  Of  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

sation  upon  the  Roman  dominion  over  the  earth. 
It  appears  that  this  noble  Centurion  is  not  un- 
known to  Rabbi  Amos,  who  speaks  of  him  as 
one  of  the  most  popular  Roman  officers  in  com- 
mand in  the  city.  I  am  glad  to  hear  this.  He 
also  gave  me  warning  not  to  approach  again 
near  the  garrison  points  of  the  town,  as  the  sol- 
diers take  pleasure  in  giving  annoyance  to  the 
citizens. 

While  I  was  writing  the  above,  a  commotion 
•without,  as  if  something  unusual  was  occurring; 
drew  me  to  the  lattice,  which  overlooks  the 
street  that  goes  out  of  the  gate  to  Bethany,  one 
of  the  most  frequented  thoroughfares  in  the  city. 
The  sight  that  met  my  eyes  was  truly  imposing, 
but  made  my  heart  sink  with  shame.  It  was  a 
pageant,  with  banners,  eagles,  trumpets,  and 
gilded  chariots!  but  not  the  pageant  of  a  king  of 
Israel,  like  those  which  dazzkd  the  streets  of 
Jerusalem  in  the  days  of  Solomon  and  King 
David !  not  the  triumphant  passage  of  an  Israel- 
itish  prince,  but  of  the  Roman  governor!  Pre- 
ceded by  a  cohort  of  horses,  he  rode  in  a  gilded 
war-chariot,  lolling  at  his  ease  beneath  a  silken 
shade  of  blue  silk,  fringed  with  gold.  The 
horses  were  snowy-white,  and  covered  with  sil- 
ver mail,  and  adorned  with  plumes.  He  was 
followed  b.y  another  body  of  cavalry,  chiefly 
composed  of  richly  attired  young  men,  and  at 
the  head  of  them,  looking  more  like  a  ruler  and 
prince  than  the  indolent  Pilate,  I  beheld  the  gen- 
erous Centurion  who  had  aided  my  escape  from 
the  two  soldiers.  His  eye  sought  the  lattice  at 


THE    FRIXCH-  OF   THE    HOB'SE    OF   DAVID.  35 

which  I  stood,  and  I  drew  back,  but  not  before 
he  had  seen  me  and  saluted  me.  Certainly, 
father,  this  youth  is  noble  and  courteous  enough 
to  DC  a  Jew,  and  should  any  providence  cause  us 
to  meet  again,  I  shall  try  and  convert  him  from 
his  idolatry  to  serve  the  living  Jehovah.  I  was 
not  pleased  with  the  appearance  of  the  governor. 
He  is  a  dark,  handsome  man,  but  too  fleshy,  and 
\vith  the  countenance  of  a  man  given  to  much 
wine;  and  I  learn  that  he  is  naturally  indolent 
and  luxurious,  and  deficient  in  decision  of  char- 
acter. He  is  a  particular  friend  of  the  Roman 
Emperor,  and  to  his  partiality  he  owes  the  gov- 
ernorship here.  It  is,  however,  better  to  have  a 
table-lover  and  idle  man  for  our  master,  than  a 
cruel  and  active  tyrant  like  his  predecessor,  in  an 
insurrection  against  whom  was  slain  that  emi- 
nent man,  the  father  of  John,  the  cousin  of  Mary, 
of  whom  I  spoke  to  you  in  my  last  letter. 

And  this  reminds  me  that  I  had  something  to 
relate  to  you.  You  will  remember,  dear  father, 
that  I  alluded  to  an  excitement  that  is  increasing 
every  day,  in  reference  to  a  new  prophet,  who  is 
preaching  in  the  wilderness  of  Jericho,  and 
whose  life  is  as  austere  as  was  that  of  Elijah ! 
For  three  wreeks  past  several  parties  of  citizens 
have  been  to  the  valley  of  Jordan  to  see  and  hear 
him,  and  have  so  far  been  carried  away  by  him, 
as  to  have  been  baptized  of  him  in  Jordan,  con- 
fessing their  sins.  Among  these  is  John,  the 
cousin  and  betrothed  of  Mary,  who,  having 
heard  much  said  of  the  power  with  which  this 
man  spoke,  by  those  who  had  returned,  also 


36      THE  PRINCE  OF  TEE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

went  to  satisfy  his  curiosity,  and,  as  he  says,  with' 
a  secret  hope  that  God  had  again  remembered 
Israel,  and  sent  to  us  a  prophet  of  reconciliation. 
Upon  his  return  we  saw  that  his  countenance 
was  animated  beyond  its  wont,  for  he  is  usually 
of  a  sad  and  gentle  aspect,  and  that  his  fine  eyes 
beamed  with  an  ardent  hope,  that  seemed  new- 
born in  his  soul.  He  thus  recounted  to  us  his 
visit  to  the  prophet  of  Jordan: 

"After  leaving  the  gate  and  crossing  the  brook 
and  valley  of  Kedron,  I  encountered  a  large 
company,  who  were  ascending  the  road  that 
winds  over  the  south  side  of  Olivet.  These  were 
men,  women  and  children,  and  they  were  pro- 
vided with  food  in  baskets,  and  travel  as  our 
people  do,  when  they  come  up  to  the  Feast  ot 
the  Passover.  I  found  on  joining  them  that 
they  were  directing  their  steps  also  towards  the 
wilderness,  in  order  to  hear  the  great  prophet, 
whose  fame  was  in  all  men's  mouths.  Among 
them  were  priests  and  judges,  Sadducees,  and 
Pharisees,  and  Esenes,  and  even  men  of  no  faith ; 
for  even  in  Judah  we  have  many  ten  thousands 
who  believe  in  no  God,  so  long  has  it  been  since 
Jehovah  hath  visited  his  people! 

"Passing  on  ahead  of  this  company,  I  being 
well-mounted,  and  they  travelling  slowly,  I  at 
length  reached  the  summit  of  the  hill,  from 
which  I  obtained  a  distant  view  of  the  valley  of 
the  Jordan,  and  even  thought  I  could  make  out 
the  town  of  Jericho,  though  the  distance  was 
thirty  or  more  miles.  I  looked  back  to  take  a 
parting  glance  at  the  city,  How  like  the  " 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE  OP  DAVID.  37 

of  God"  it  crowned  its  lordly  hills!  All  the  glory 
of  Jerusalem,  of  the  past,  came  before  my  mem- 
ory, and  I  sighed  that  that  glory  had  departed, 
not  in  the  destruction  of  its  edifices,  for  Jerusa- 
lem is  still  magnificent  and  imposing,  but  in  the 
downfall  of  its  power.  I  heard,  distant  as  I  was, 
the  strains  of  the  Roman  bugles,  echoing  over 
the  valleys  where  the  prophets,  priests  and  kings 
lay  buried,  and  reverberating  from  the  Temple 
walls,  the  sacred  echoes  of  which,  aforetime,  had 
been  awakened  by  the  voice  of  God!  Geth- 
semane,  the  fair  garden  of  Solomon,  where  he 
tried  to  create  a  second  Eden,  lay  at  my  feet,  its 
walls  broken,  and  its  walks  wild  and  overgrown; 
here  and  there  a  fig  or  an  olive,  or  a  palm  tree 
only,  remaining  to  tell  the  passing  traveller  that 
here  was  'the  delight  of  gardens,  the  abode  of 
pleasure  and  of  mirth,  from  which  were  excluded 
all  who  were  sorrowful,  that  no  tears  might  fall 
upon  its  enameled  floors,  dedicated  to  voluptuous 
joy.'  This  description  of  it,  given  by  our  poets, 
passed  through  my  mind,  as  I  beheld  its  melan- 
choly and  deserted  aspect — looking  more  like  a 
place  of  tears  than  joy,  as  if  its  shades  would 
invite  the  sorrowful  to  weep  in  them,  rather  than 
the  silvery  feet  of  the  dancer! 

"I  soon  reached  the  pretty  town  of  BethpLge, 
v.-here,  at  the  inn,  I  beheld  several  horsemen  just 
mounting  to  go  in  the  direction  of  Jericho.  Sev- 
eral of  them  I  knew,  and,  on  joining  the  caval- 
cade, learned  they  were  for  the  most  part  drawn 
out  of  Jerusalem  on  the  .same  errand  of  curiosity 
with  myself.  But  one  of  them,  however,  a 


38  THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

wealthy  young  noble  of  Arimathea,  was  actuated 
by  the  same  holy  desire  that  burned  in  my 
bosom,  a  desire  that  we  might,  in  the  prophet 
who  was  called  John,  discover  a  man  sent  from 
God.  The  others  were  bent  on  commerce,  on 
pleasure,  on  mere  idle  curiosity,  to  see  one  of 
whom  every  one  talked  in  all  the  land  of  Judea. 
As  Joseph  of  Arimathea  and  I  rode  together,  we 
conversed  about  the  man  we  expected  to  see, 
and  the  different  reports  which  were  noised 
abroad  respecting  him.  My  companion  seemed 
to  believe  that  he  was  a  true  prophet,  for  being 
very  well  read  in  the  Scriptures,  he  said  that  the 
seventy  weeks  of  Daniel  were  now  about  com- 
pleted, when  the  Messiah  was  to  come.  I  then 
asked  him  if  he  believed  that  the  Messiah,  who 
was  to  be  'a  Prince  and  King,  and  have  domi- 
nion from  the  sea  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,'  would 
come  in  the  wilderness,  clad  in  the  skins  of  wild 
beasts?  To  this  he  replied,  that  he  could  not 
regard  this  prophet  as  the  Messiah,  for  when  the 
Christ  should  come,  he  was  'suddenly  to  come  to 
the  Temple/  and  that  we  should  doubtless  first 
see  him  there;  but  that  he  was  greatly  in  hopes 
that  the  prophet  we  were  going  to  see,  would 
prove  to  be  the  forerunner,  foretold  by  Malachi. 
Having  a  roll  of  the  Prophet  Daniel  with  me,  for 
I  took  the  prophets  along  to  compare  what  I 
should  hear  the  preacher  of  Jordan  proclaim 
with  them,  I  saw  to  my  surprise,  that  not  only 
the  seventy  weeks  had  about  reached  their  com- 
pletion, but  that  the  expiration  of  the  'thousand 
two  hundred  and  ninety  days'  drew  presently 


THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID.  39 

nigh!  We  were  both  surprised  at  this  coinci- 
dence with  the  advent  of  this  new  prophet;  and 
joy  and  fear  trembled  in  our  hearts,  tempered 
with  hopes  we  dared  not  utter. 

"  'Those  who  have  heard  him,'  said  Joseph,  as 
\ve  rode  into  the  village  of  Bethany,  'say  that  he 
publicly  proclaims  himself  the  forerunner  of  the 
Messiah.  The  opinion  of  the  more  ignorant 
who  have  listened  to  him  is,  that  it  is  Elijah  him- 
self, risen  to  life!  while  others  assert  that  it  is 
Enoch,  come  down  from  heaven;  and  not  a  few 
believe  him  to  be  Isaiah.' 

"In  this  manner,  conversing,  we  crossed  the 
hill  of  Bethany,  where,  tradition  says,  stood  the 
Tree  of  the  Knowledge  of  Good  and  Evil,  and 
also,  where  rested  the  foot  of  Jacob's  ladder;  and 
from  which  place,  it  is  believed  by  many,  all 
good  men  after  the  resurrection  shall  ascend  into 
the  third  heaven ;  for  it  is  the  common  belief  that 
the  throne  of  Jehovah  is  directly  above  it. 

"At  length,  after  a  long  day's  ride,  during 
which  we  had  overtaken  and  passed  many  large 
companies  hurrying  forward  to  hear  the 
prophet,  also  meeting  many  returning,  spreading 
wonderful  accounts  of  his  eloquence,  wisdom 
and  power,  we  came  in  sight  of  Jericho.  The 
city  is  very  stately,  with  its  Roman  towers  and 
palaces,  it  being  the  favorite  summer  resort  of 
the  governors.  Its  situation,  in  a  green  valley, 
was  refreshing  to  the  eyes,  after  our  dreary  ride 
all  day  over  the  broken  and  barren  hills.  On 
our  left,  a  mile  before  you  come  to  the  town,  we 
passed  the  ruins  of  the  tower  and  house  of  Kiel, 


40  THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

who  rebuilt  Jericho  in  the  days  of  the  Kings. 
To  the  right  was  the  field  where  the  Chaldean 
army  defeated  our  fathers  in  battle,  and  took 
King  Zedekiah  captive;  it  was  now  covered  with 
beautiful  gardens,  and  smiled  as  if  peace  had 
ever  dwelt  in  its  sweet  shades.  On  an  emi- 
nence, to  the  north  of  us,  about  half  a  league  oiT, 
Joseph,  who  had  often  travelled  this  way,  made 
me  take  notice  of  the  ruins  of  Ai,  and  of  the  hill 
of  ambush,  where  lay  the  warriors  of  Joshua, 
who  surprised  and  cut  off  the  city.  As  we 
approached  the  city,  I  could  not  but  recall  the 
period  when  Israel's  hundred  thousands,  shod 
with  the  sandals  they  had  worn  forty  years  in  the 
wilderness,  marched  seven  times  around  it.  In 
imagination  I  heard  their  martial  tread  shaking 
the  very  earth,  and  beheld  the  princely  Joshua, 
standing  aloof  on  an  eminence  near,  directing 
the  solemn  march.  I  heard  again  the  thunder 
of  the  trumpets  of  the  hosts  of  God  seven  times 
sounded,  and  saw  the  proud  wall  of  the  city 
fall,  darkening  the  whole  heavens  with  the 
clouds  of  dust  that  rolled  over  the  heads  of  awe- 
struck Israel.  But  how  different  was  the  reality! 
The  setting  sun  was  gilding  the  firmly  standing 
towers,  turrets,  pinnacles  and  battlements  of  the 
Roman  city,  lending  to  it  a  splendor  that  moved 
the  soul  to  admiration;  and  the  blue  sky  bent 
serenely  without  a  cloud  above  it;  and  the  circl- 
ing vale,  instead  of  echoing  to  the  tread  of  an 
armed  host,  for  whom  Jehovah  fought,  was  now 
filled  with  Roman  knights  and  ladies  on  gay  par- 
ties of  pleasure,  and  processions  of  maidens 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE   HOUSE   Of  DAVID.  41 

moving  to  the  cemetery  of  the  tombs,  clad  in 
snow-white  vestments,  casting  flowers  in  their 
path,  and  chanting  sacred  songs;  for  it  was  the 
day  in  which  the  daughters  of  Jericho  celebrate 
the  hapless  fate  of  the  lovely  daughter  of 
Jephtha,  by  visiting  her  sepulchre;  for  she  was 
born  and  buried  in  this  city,  where  Jephtha  long 
dwelt. 

"At  the  gate  we  were  stopped  by  a  Roman 
soldier,  who  demanded  our  passports  and  the 
traveller's  tribute,  which  humiliating  affair 
settled,  we  rode  into  the  city;  for  it  was  our 
intention  to  pass  the  night  there,  and  early  in 
the  morning  walk  to  the  banks  of  the  Jordan, 
where  we  understood  the  prophet  was  teaching 
and  baptizing." 

At  this  point  of  the  narrative  of  the  cousin  of 
Mary,  dear  father,  I  will  close  this  letter.  We 
had  all  listened  with  the  deepest  attention,  not  so 
much  for  the  interest  it  contained  in  itself,  as  on 
account  of  the  admirable  manner  in  which  he  re- 
cited what  he  had  seen;  his  face  being  calmly 
beautiful,  his  eyes  soft  and  expressive,  his  voice 
musical,  and  his  whole  aspect  the  true  and 
expressive  manifestation  .of  the  intelligence, 
gentleness,  amiability,  and  noble  ardor  of  piety 
which  belong  to  his  whole  character.  In  my 
next  I  will  resume  his  narrative,  dear  father,  for 
when  I  have  given  it  to  you  wholly,  I  have  many 
things  to  ask  you  to  which  it  gives  rise  in  my 
mind.  May  the  blessing  of  the  God  of  Israel  be 
upon  thee,  my  dear  father! 

ADINA. 


LETTER  IV. 

My  Dear  Father: — I  have  had  the  pleasure 
to-day,  not  only  of  hearing  from  you,  but  of 
being  assured  of  your  continued  welfare.  The 
messages  of  parental  affection  contained  in  your 
letter  are  cherished  in  my  heart.  The  costly 
gifts  of  your  generous  love,  sent  by  you  with  the 
letter,  and  which  were  safely  delivered  from  your 
hand  into  mine,  by  your  faithful  servant  Elec, 
will  be  worn  by  me  with  all  a  daughter's  pride. 
I  regret  to  hear  of  the  death  of  Rabbi  Israel, 
while  I  rejoice  that  the  high  office  he  held  with 
so  much  dignity  has  been  bestowed  upon  you  by 
the  Pro-consul ;  for  though  you  may  not  need  its 
emoluments,  dear  father,  such  selection  is  a  flat- 
tering proof  of  the  estimation  in  which  you  are 
held  by  the  Roman  Governor. 

You  need  not  fear,  my  dear  father,  that  I  shall 
be  carried  away  from  the  faith  of  Israel  by  any 
strange  doctrines;  I  will  take  counsel  by  your 
wisdom,  and  be  cautious  how  I  adventure  in  my 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  43 

inquiries  upon  too  sacfed  ground.  I  have  freely 
written  to  you  for  your  advice,  and  I  trust  that 
you  will  not  look  upon  my  inquiries  as  expres- 
sions of  doubt,  but  as  searchings  after  what  is 
true.  I  know  you  are  read  in  the  law  above  all 
Jews,  and  that  any  difficulties  I  may  meet  with 
in  observing  things  here  in  Jerusalem,  especially 
in  the  worship  and  ceremonies  of  the  Temple, 
you  will  remove  for  me. 

In  my  last  letter,  which  will  not  reach  your 
hands  for  some  days  yet,  I  commenced  giving 
you  the  narrative  of  John,  the  cousin  of  Mary, 
who  went  down  into  the  wilderness  to  see  and 
hear  the  prophet  of  Jordan.  I  will  not  take  it 
upon  myself  to  decide  or  form  an  opinion  upon 
anything  yet,  dear  father,  but  state  facts,  and  let 
your  wisdom  instruct  me  into  the  truths  that 
may  grow  out  of  them.  One  thing  which  your 
letter  states  gratifies  me,  and  gives  me  confi- 
dence; it  is  these  words:  "Do  not  fear  that  the 
integrity  of  the  laws  of  Moses,  or  of  the  worship 
of  the  Temple,  or  the  predictions  of  the  Proph- 
ets, can  be  moved  by  any  investigations  that  man 
can  make  into  them.  They  are  founded  in  truth, 
and  will  abide  forever.  The  worship  of  Israel 
fears  nothing  from  inquiry.  But  while  you  ask 
and  question  about  sacred  things,  remember  that 
they  belong  to  God,  and  must  be  inquired  into 
with  awful  reverence  and  profound  humility. 
Any  inquiries  made  into  the  prophecies  with  an 
eye  to  search  out  their  day  of  fulfilment,  are 
proper  and  useful;  and  as  this  day  seems  to  be 
that  of  fulfilment  rather  than  that  of  prediction. 


44  THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  ut    DAVID. 

your  studies  may  be  suggested  and  directed  by 
heavenly  wisdom,  and,  if  so,  they  will  be  guided 
to  their  true  issue.  As  I  am  so  far  removed  from 
you,  I  cannot  judge  concerning  this  prophet 
your  first  letter  named  as  being  in  the  wilder- 
ness ;  yet  I  should  not  be  surprised  if  the  fullness 
of  time  indicated  by  Isaiah  were  near  at  hand,  for 
the  events  you  enumerated  seem  to  proclaim  its 
approach,  such  as  the  lax  worship  in  the  Temple; 
the  worship  of  the  Roman  idols  on  Mount  Zion ; 
the  profanation  of  the  altar;  and  the  rule  of  the 
heathen  over  the  empire  of  David.  Let  us  fer- 
vently pray,  my  child,  for  the  fulfilment  of  the 
prophecies,  which  promise  Messiah  to  our 
stricken  people!  Let  us  supplicate  for  the  rising 
of  the  Star  of  Jacob,  the  Prince  of  Peace,  who 
shall  erect  his  throne  on  Mount  Zion,  and  whose 
sceptre  shall  be  a  sceptre  of  righteousness;  under 
whose  wide  dominion  Israel  shall  lift  up  her 
head  and  rule  the  nations.  My  daily  prayer, 
with  my  face  towards  Jerusalem,  is,  that  I  may 
live  to  behold  the  hope  of  Israel,  and  with  my 
eyes  see  the  splendor  of  the  glory  of  Shiloh." 

These  words  of  yours,  my  dear  father,  give 
me  courage.  I  believe,  with  you,  that  the  day  of 
fulfilment  of  the  Prophets  is  dawning;  and  per- 
haps is  nearer  than  we  believe.  When  I  have 
completed  the  history  of  John's  journey  to  Jor- 
dan to  hear  the  prophet,  you  will  understand  why 
I  speak  with  such  hopeful  confidence;  and  you 
will  agree  with  me  that  this  preacher  of  repent- 
ance is  not  one  of  the  class  of  false  prophets, 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  4& 

against  whose  chimeras  your  letter  so  properly 
cautions  me. 

"We  arose  at  dawn,"  said  Mary's  cousin,  in 
continuation  of  his  interesting  narrative,  "and, 
leaving  the  inn,  we  took  our  way  out  of  the  city 
by  the  eastern  gate,  which  we  easily  found,  inas- 
much as  a  quarter  of  the  city  was  in  motion,  and 
moving  in  the  same  direction.  Here  we  were 
detained  by  the  Gentile  guards  for  full  half-an- 
hour,  till  the  multitude  had  become  so  immense 
as  to  tread  one  upon  another,  and  fill  the  whole 
street.  Nevertheless,  we  had  to  wait  tit!  the 
indolent  Captain  of  the  Gate  chose  to  be  dis- 
turbed in  his  morning  repose,  and  then  bathe  his 
dainty  limbs,  and  then  break  his  fast,  all  which 
he  did  very  deliberately,  before  he  would  suffer 
the  gate  to  be  opened!  Such  slaves  are  we 
to  such  masters!  Oh,  when  shall  arrive  the  day 
when,  as  saith  Isaiah,  'our  gates  shall  be  opened 
continually;  they  shall  not  be  shut  day  nor  night, 
that  men  may  bring  unto  thee  the  forces  of  the 
Gentiles,  and  that  their  kings  may  be  brought 
captives  to  our  feet.' 

"Having  passed  out  of  the  gate,  my  friend  of 
Aramathea  and  myself  separated  a  little  from  the 
crowd,  and  crossed  the  plain  towards  Jordan, 
which  was  about  a  mile  and  a  half  off.  The  morn- 
ing1 was  balmy;  the  sun  made  all  nature  glad. 
The  dew  reflected  a  myriad  lesser  suns,  and  the 
earth  appeared  strewn  with  diamonds.  For  a 
little  way  the  road  lay  between  fields  of  corn  and 
gardens;  but  soon  it  crossed  the  open  plain,  on 
which  were  droves  of  wild  asses,  which  lifted 


48  THE  PBINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

their  small,  spirited  heads  on  our  approach,  eyed 
us  with  timid  curiosity,  and  then  bounded  off  to 
the  wilderness  southward  with  the  speed  of  ante- 
lopes. As  the  great  body  of  the  people  took 
their  way  obliquely  across  the  plain,  we  knew  the 
prophet  must  be  in  that  direction,  as  it  proved; 
for  we  at  length  found  him  on  the  banks  of  the 
Jordan,  full  half  a  league  below  the  landing  and 
ford,  which  is  opposite  Jericho,  on  the  great  car- 
avan road  to  Balbec  and  Assyria,  that  long  and 
weary  road  so  often  travelled  by  our  forefathers 
when  they  have  been  led  into  captivity — the  road 
which  so  many  kings  have  watered  with  their 
tears!  We  gazed  upon  it  with  emotion  of  sad- 
ness, and  with  tearful  prayers  that  Jehovah 
would  return  and  visit  once  more  the  remnant  of 
his  people,  and  not  be  angry  with  us  forever! 
After  we  had  approached  the  Jordan  some  dis- 
tance above  the  ford,  we  beheld  the  multitude 
listening  to  the  prophet  far  to  the  south  of  us,  on 
the  edge  of  the  desert,  which  approaches  in  this 
quarter  very  near  Jericho.  As  we  traversed  the 
banks  of  the  flowing  stream,  we  came  all  at  once 
upon  a  pillar  of  stones  partly  in  the  water. 
'This/  said  my  companion,  stopping,  'is  the 
Mount  of  Twelve  Stones,  which  Israel  set  up  to 
commemorate  the  passage  of  Jordan.  Here 
they  crossed  on  dry  ground.' 

"I  counted  them,  and  found  but  nine  of  them 
remaining.  What  Vicissitudes,  I  reflected,  had 
not  Israel  passed  through  since  the  hands  of  our 
fathers  placed  that  heap  together!  Generations 
of  judges  and  long  lines  of  kings;  captivities  sue- 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.  47 

ceeding  captivities;  wars,  conquests  and  defeats, 
and  subjection,  finally,  till  we  are  no  longer  a 
people;  having  a  king,  indeed,  but  whose  sceptre 
is  a  mockery — a  Herod,  holding  his  crown  at  the 
courtesy  of  the  Imperial  Monarch  of  Rome. 
Alas,  with  the  end  of  the  reign  of  such  a  king, 
the  sceptre  will  forever  depart  from  Judah!"  he 
added,  bitterly. 

"Then  will  Shiloh  come!"  exclaimed  my 
cousin  Mary,  with  animation. 

"Yes;  Judah  must  be  abased  to  the  lowest 
step,  before  she  can  rise,  and  with  Shiloh  king, 
her  glory  will  fill  the  whole  earth,"  responded 
John,  with  hope  once  more  beaming  in  his  eyes. 
"At  length  we  drew  near  the  dark  mass  of 
human  beings  which  we  had  beheld  afar  off,  as- 
sembled around  a  small  eminence  near  the  river. 
Upon  it,  raised  a  few  cubits  taller  than  their 
heads,  stood  a  man,  upon  whom  all  eyes  were 
fixed,  and  to  whose  words  every  ear  was  atten- 
tive. His  clear,  rich,  earnest  tones,  had  reached 
us  as  we  approached,  before  we  could  distinguish 
what  he  said.  He  was  a  young  man  not  above 
thirty,  with  a  countenance  such  as  the  medallions 
of  Egypt  give  to  Joseph  of  our  nation,  once  their 
Prince.  His  hair  was  long,  and  wildly  free  about 
his  neck;  he  wore  a  loose  sack  of  camel's  hair, 
and  his  right  arm  was  naked  to  the  shoulder. 
His  attitude  was  as  free  and  commanding  as  that 
of  a  Caucasian  warrior,  yet  every  gesture  was 
gentle  and  graceful.  With  all  his  ringing  and 
persuasive  eloquence  there  was  an  air  of  the 
'deepest  humility  on  his  countenance,  combined; 


Ja  THE  PRINCE   OF   THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

with  an  expression  of  the  holiest  enthusiasm. 
The  people  listened  eagerly  to  him,  for  he  spake 
like  the  Prophets  of  old,  and  chiefly  in  their 
prophetic  words!  His  theme  was  the  Messiah: 

"  'Oh,  Israel,  return  unto  the  Lord  thy  God, 
for  thou  hast  fallen  by  thine  iniquity,'  he  was 
saying,  as  we  came  up,  as  if  in  continuation  of 
what  had  come  before,  'Take  with  you  words, 
and  turn  unto  the  Lord,  and  say  unto  Him: 
Take  away  all  iniquity  and  receive  us  graciously. 
Behold,  He  cometh  who  will  heal  your  backslid- 
ing, and  will  love  you  freely!  He  will  be  as  the 
dew  unto  Israel !  He  shall  grow  as  the  lily,  and 
cast  forth  his  roots  as  Lebanon!  His  branches 
shall  spread,  and  his  beauty  shall  be  as  the  olive 
tree,  and  his  fruit  shall  be  for  the  healing  of  the 
nations!  They  that  dwell  under  his  shadow  shall 
return  and  dwell  evermore;  and  it  shall  come  to 
pass  that  whosoever  shall  call  on  the  name  of 
the  Lord  shall  be  delivered,  for  besides  him  there 
is  no  Savior.' 

"  'Of  whom  speaketh  the  prophet  these 
things?'  asked  one  who  stood  near  me,  of  his 
neighbor,  and  then  of  me,  for  by  this  time  we 
had  taken  places  as  close  to  the  prophet  as  we 
were  able;  for  I  did  not  wish  to  lose  one  word 
that  should  fall  from  the  lips  of  a  man  who  could 
thus  empty  cities,  and  people  the  wilderness  with 
their  inhabitants. 

"  'Of  Messiah — listen!'  answered  him,  a  Scribe 
<near,  as  if  not  pleased  to  have  his  atten- 
tion interrupted  by  his  side  talk.  'His  words  are 
plain.  Hear  him.' 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.  49 

"  'Blow  ye  the  trumpet  in  Zion,  for  the  day  of 
the  Lord  cometh!'  continued  the  prophet,  in  a 
voice  like  that  of  a  silver  trumpet;  'for,  behold^ 
the  day  is  at  hand  when  I  will  bring  again  the 
captivity  of  Judah.  Put  ye  in  the  sickle,  for  the 
harvest  is  ripe!  The  day  is  at  hand  when  the 
Lord  shall  roar  out  of  Zion  and  utter  his  voice 
from  Jerusalem.' 

"  'Art  thou  not  Elias?'  asked  one,  aloud. 

"  'I  am  he  of  whom  it  is  written,  the  voice  of 
one  crying  in  the  wilderness,  make  straight  a 
highway  for  our  God.  The  day  of  the  Lord  is  at 
hand.  I  am  but  the  herald  who  is  sent  before 
to  prepare  the  way  of  the  Lord !' 

"  'Art  thou  not  the  Messiah?'  asked  a  woman, 
who  stood  near  him,  and  seemed  to  worship  his 
very  lips. 

"  'He  who  cometh  after  me  is  mightier  than  1, 
whose  shoes  I  am  not  worthy  to  bear!'  he  re- 
sponded, in  the  deepest  humiliation  of  manner. 
'He  who  cometh  after  me  hath  his  fan  in  his 
hand,  and  he  will  thoroughly  purge  his  floor  and 
gather  the  wheat  into  the  garner;  but  will  burn 
up  the  chaff  with  unquenchable  fire.  Therefore, 
repent  ye,  repent  ye,  take  words  and  return  unto 
the  Lord  your  God.  Repent  and  be  baptized 
for  the  remission  of  your  sins;  for  the  day 
cometh  which  shall  burn  as  an  oven,  and  take 
heed  that  ye  be  not  consumed!  The  axe  is  laid 
at  the  root  of  the  tree;  therefore,  every  tree  that 
bringeth  not  forth  good  fruit  shall  be  hewn 
down  and  cast  into  the  fire.' 

"  'Master,'   said  a   Levite,   'dost  thou   speak 


50  THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

these  things  to  us,  who  are  of  Israel,  or  to  these 
Gentiles  and  Samaritans?'  for  there  were  not  a 
few  Roman  soldiers  among  the  multitude,  drawn 
hither  by  curiosity,  and  also  many  people  from 
Samaria,  nay,  even  from  Damascus. 

"  'Go  and  cry  in  the  ears  of  Jerusalem,  saith 
the  Lord,  for  my  people  hath  committed  two 
evils;  they  have  forsaken  me,  the  fountain  of  liv- 
ing waters,  and  hewed  them  out  cisterns,  broken 
cisterns,  that  can  hold  no  water.  The  Lord  hath 
made  me  this  day  an  iron  pillar  and  brazen  wall 
against  the  whole  land — against  the  kings  of 
Judah,  against  the  princes  thereof,  against  the 
priests  thereof,  and  against  the  people  of  the 
land!  and  yet  thou  sayest,  O  Israel,  thou  hast  not 
sinned.  Thine  own  wickedness  shall  correct 
thee,  and  thy  backsliding  shall  reprove  thee. 
Repent  and  do  works  meet  for  repentance,  every 
one  of  you,  for  ye  have  polluted  the  land;  neither 
say,  where  is  the  Lord  that  brought  us  up  out 
of  the  land  of  Egypt?  I  am  provoked  to  anger 
every  day  by  your  hardness  of  heart  and  stiff- 
neckedness.  Amend,  amend  your  doings! 
Trust  not  in  lying  words,  saying,  The  Temple 
of  the  Lord,  The  Temple  of  the  Lord,  The 
Temple  of  the  Lord!  Ye  have  made  it  a  den  of 
robbers!  Your  sacrifices  therein  are  become  an 
abomination  to  the  Lord!' 

1  'This  would  touch  us  who  are  priests,  mas- 
ters,' said  a  priest,  with  a  crimson  brow.  'We 
are  not  robbers!' 

"  'Thus  saith  the  Lord/  answered  the  youthful 
prophet,  as  if  it  were  God  himself,  speaking  from 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAYIo.  61 

Horeb,  so  that  we  trembled  as  we  heard  him: 
'Woe  be  unto  the  pastors  that  destroy  my  sheep; 
I  will  visit  upon  you  the  evil  of  your  doings. 
How  is  the  gold  become  dim — how  is  the  most 
fine  gold  changed!  The  precious  sons  of  Zion, 
comparable  to  fine  gold,  how  are  they  esteemed? 
Her  priests  were  purer  than  snow!  they  were 
whiter  than  milk ;  they  were  more  ruddy  in  body 
than  rubies;  their  polishing  was  of  sapphire! 
Their  visage  is  blacker  than  coal;  they  feed  the 
children  of  my  people  with  ashes  for  bread! 
Woe  to  Zion,  for  the  sins  of  her  prophets  and  the 
iniquities  of  her  priests.  Run  ye  to  and  fro 
through  the  streets  of  Jerusalem,  and  seek  in  the 
broad  places  thereof,  saith  the  Lord,  if  you  can 
find  a  man  that  executeth  judgment,  that  seek- 
eth  truth!  Though  they  say  the  Lord  liveth, 
surely  they  swear  falsely.  Hear  ye  this,  O 
priests,  and  harkeu,  ye  house  of  Israel!  Woe 
unto  you,  ye  priests,  for  ye  have  transgressed! 
I  have  seen  in  the  prophets  of  Jerusalem  a  hor- 
lible  thing;  they  commit  adultery  and  walk  in 
lies,  saith  the  Lord.  My  people  have  trans- 
gressed, for  the  lack  of  knowledge!  Therefore,  I 
will  reject  thee,  saith  the  Lord ;  thou  shalt  be  no 
priests  to  me  since  thou  hast  forgotten  the  law  of 
thy  God.  Like  people,  like  priests!  Therefore 
doth  the  land  mourn,  and  every  one  that  dwell- 
eth  therein  languisheth.  Therefore  do  swearing 
and  lying,  and  killing  and  stealing,  and  commit- 
ting adultery,  break  out  in  the  land,  because 
there  is  no  truth,  nor  mercy,  nor  knowledge  of 
God  in  the  land.  Woe  unto  you,  ye  priests!' 


52  THE  PRINCE   OP  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

Many  of  the  Levites  then  turned  and  left  him, 
and  went  away  greatly  murmuring;  and  they 
would  gladly  have  done  the  prophet  a  mischief, 
but  they  feared  the  multitude,  who  said  he  had 
spoken  only  the  truth  of  them.  'But  the  elders 
of  Israel,  who  are  not  priests,  and  who  spring 
from  Abraham,  shall  be  saved  by  Abraham, 
master?'  asserted,  or  rather  inquired,  a  rich  ruler 
of  our  city,  after  the  tumult  caused  by  the  with- 
drawal of  the  Levites  had  a  little  subsided.  The 
youthful  prophet  rested  his  dark  eyes,  like  two 
suns,  upon  the  old  man's  face,  and  said  impres- 
sively, 'Begin  not  to  say  within  yourself,  we  have 
Abraham  to  our  father,  for  I  say  unto  you,'  he 
added,  pointing  to  the  pebbles  at  his  feet,  'that 
God  is  able  of  these  stones  to  raise  up  children 
unto  Abraham.  He  is  of  Abraham  who  doth 
righteousness;  therefore  repent,  and  bring  forth 
fruits  meet  for  repentance.'  " 

Here  was  heard  some  murmuring  among  a 
group  of  many  Pharisees  and  Sadducees  at  these 
words,  when,  sending  his  lightning  glance  to- 
wards them,  as  if  he  could  read  their  verv  hearts, 
he  cried: 

"  'O  generation  of  vipers !  Who  hath  warned 
you  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come?  The  day 
cometh  when  he  who  is  to  come  shall  sit  as  a 
purifier  by  his  furnace.  Bring  forth,  therefore, 
fruits  meet  for  repentance.  Wash  thy  heart 
from  wickedness,  that  thou  mayst  be  saved. 
And  ye,  daughters  of  Judah,  repent  you  of  the 
vain  thoughts  that  lodge  within  you,'  cried  he, 
addressing  many  females  in  rich  apparel  and 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  53 

plaited  hair,  'gird  ye  with  sackcloth,  lament  and 
howl;  put  away  these  abominations  out  of  my 
sight,  and  fear  the  Lord.  Though  thou  clothest 
thyself  with  crimson,  though  thou  deckest  thyself 
with  ornaments  of  gold,  though  thou  rentest  thy 
face  with  painting,  in  vain  shalt  thou  make  thy- 
self fair;  for  I  hear  the  voice  of  the  daughters  of 
£ion  bewailing  themselves,  spreading  forth  their 
hands  in  the  day  when  they  are  spoiled  and  de- 
spised for  their  iniquities.  Repent  ye,  for  the 
'dngdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand! 

"  'Hear,  O  Israel!  Am  I  a  God  at  hand  and 
.  lot  a  God  afar  off,  saith  the  Lord.  Hear  ye  the 
message  of  the  Most  High,  for  the  day  hath 
come  when  Jehovah  shall  once  more  visit  the 
earth  and  talk  face  to  face  with  his  creatures. 
Behold  the  day  hath  come,  saith  the  Lord,  that 
1  will  raise  unto  David  a  righteous  branch,  and 
a  king  to  reign  and  prosper,  who  shall  execute 
judgment  and  justice  on  the  earth. 

"  'Behold  the  day  hath  come,  saith  the  Lord, 
in  which  Judah  shall  be  saved,  and  Israel  shall 
dwell  safely,  when  I  will  set  up  shepherds  over 
them,  who  shall  feed  them,  and  they  shall  lack 
nothing! 

"  'Arise!  shine,  for  the  light  is  come!  ,Hear,  O 
Israel,  for  Zion's  sake  I  will  not  hold  my  peace; 
I  will  not  rest  until  the  righteousness  thereof  go 
forth  as  brightness,  and  the  salvation  thereof  as 
a  lamp  that  burneth.  Arise,  shine,  for  thy  light 
is  come  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  is  risen  upon 
thee!  Darkness  covereth  the  earth,  and  gross 
darkness  the  people,  as  saith  Esaias;  but  the 


54         THE  "PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

Lord  shall  rise  upon  thee,  and  his  glory  shall  be 
seen  upon  thee.  The  Gentiles  shall  come  to  his 
light,  and  kings  to  the  brightness  of  his  rising. 
He  shall  be  called  The  Lord  Our  Righteousness, 
and  shall  be  a  crown  of  glory  in  the  hand  of  the 
Lord,  and  a  royal  diadem  in  the  hand  of  thy 
God.  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me  to 
proclaim  the  acceptable  year  of  his  coming.  He 
hath  set  me  a  watchman  upon  thy  walls,  O 
Israel,  and  I  may  neither  hold  my  peace  day  nor 
night,  nor  keep  silence,  nor  seek  rest,  till  he 
come,  who  hath  sent  me  forth  his  messenger  be- 
fore his  face.  How  can  I  refrain  from  my  mes- 
sage of  joy?  How  shall  I  not  speak  of  his  fame? 
His  sons  shall  come  from  afar,  and  his  daughters 
shall  be  nursed  at  his  side..  The  people  of  the 
nations  shall  fly  as  a  cloud,  and  as  doves  to  their 
windows,  to  behold,  fall  down,  and  adore  him. 
The  isles  shall  wait  for  his  law,  and  kings  shall 
minister  unto  him,  even  unto  the  Holy  One  of 
Israel.  Saith  he,  I,  the  Lord,  am  thy  Savior 
and  thy  Redeemer,  the  mighty  one  of  Jacob.  Say 
ye  to  the  daughters  of  Zion,  Behold  thy  salvation 
cometh;  behold,  his  reward  is  with  him,  and  his 
work  before  him.  Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,' 
he  now  cried,  raising  his  voice  like  the  chief  of  a 
host,  till  the  farthest  heard,  'come  ye  to  the 
waters;  yea,  come  buy  wine  and  milk,  without 
money  and  without  price.  Incline  your 
ear  and  come  unto  him.  Hear,  and  your 
soul  shall  live.  Repent,  keep  justice  and 
judgment:  and  prepare  a  contrite  heart  to 
offer  to  him  when  thou  shalt  behold  him; 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.  65 

for  thus  saith  the  High  and  Lofty  One  that  in- 
habiteth  eternity,  whose  name  is  Holy,  I  dwell 
in  the  high  and  holy  place  with  him,  also,  that  is 
of  a  contrite  and  humble  spirit.  Peace,  peace 
to  him  that  is  afar  off,  and  to  him  that  is  near, 
saith  the  Lord. 

"  'Sing  unto  the  Lord  a  new  song,  and  his 
praise  from  the  ends  of  the  earth:  for  thus  saith 
God  the  Lord,  he  that  created  the  heavens  and 
stretched  them  out;  he  that  spread  forth  the 
earth,  and  that  which  cometh  out  of  it;  he  that 
giveth  breath  unto  the  people  upon  it,  and  spirit 
to  them  that  walk  therein:  Behold  my  servant 
whom  I  uphold — mine  elect  in  whom  my  soul 
delighteth:  I  have  put  my  spirit  upon  him;  he 
shall  bring  forth  judgment  to  the  Gentiles;  a 
bruised  reed  shall  he  not  break,  and  the  smoking 
flax  shall  he  not  quench.  I,  the  Lord,  saith 
Jehovah,  addressing  the  only  begotten,  I  have 
called  thee  in  righteousness,  and  will  hold  thy 
hand  and  keep  thee,  and  will  give  thee  for  a 
covenant  of  the  people,  for  a  light  of  the  Gen- 
tiles, to  open  the  blind  eyes,  to  bring  out  the 
prisoners  from  the  prison.  I  am  the  Lord,  that 
is  my  name,  and  my  glory  'will  I  not  give  to  an- 
other; yet  have  I  made  him  my  first-born,  higher 
than  the  kings  of  the  earth.  Look  unto  him,  and 
be  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth ;  for  unto  him 
every  knee  shall  bow,  every  tongue  shall  swear. 
Our  Redeemer,  the  Lord  of  Hosts  is  his  name, 
the  Holy  one  of  Israel !' 

"All  this  was  spoken  with  an  enthusiasm  and 
fire  that  made  every  pulse  bound. 


06  THE  PKINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

"Such,"  said  John,  "was  the  extraordinary 
style  of  this  mighty  prophet's  preaching,  and  to 
those  who  read  the  books  of  the  Prophets,  every 
word  shone  with  the  brightness  of  the  sun.  I 
fancied  I  had  only  to  look  around  to  behold  the 
Messiah!  The  immense  multitude  stood  awed 
and  silent  when  he  had  ceased.  I  gazed  upon 
him  with  the  most  adoring  reverence.  My 
heart  filled  with  holy  joy;  for  I  believed  and 
knew  that  God  had  remembered  Zion,  and  was 
about  to  display  his  wonders  more  remarkably 
on  earth  than  ever  had  been  witnessed  before. 
Leaving  the  eminence,  he  said,  and  I  thought  he 
fixed  his  eyes  on  me,  'Ye  who  desire  to  be  bap- 
tized for  the  remission  of  sins,  that  your  hearts 
may  be  cleansed  for  the  visitation  of  this  Holy 
One  of  God,  follow  me  to  the  river  side! 
Thousands  obeyed,  and  I  one  of  the  first.  I 
trembled  all  over  with  a  sweet  pleasure,  when  he 
took  me  by  the  hand,  and  asked  me  if  I  believed 
in  Him  who  was  to  come,  and  would  prepare 
the  way  for  His  abode  in  my  heart  by  being 
baptized,  which  rite  also  was  to  be  a  sign  and 
pledge  that  when  I  should  behold  the  Shiloh 
rising,  I  should  acknowledge  Him.  Not  less 
than  one  thousand  were  baptized  by  him  that 
day  in  Jordan,  confessing  their  sins,  and  hopes 
of  pardon  through  the  name  of  the  unknown 
One,  who  was  soon  to  come.  Among  these 
were  Pharisees  and  Sadducees,  rulers  and  law- 
yers, and  one  grey-headed  Roman  soldier. 
Joseph  of  Arimathea  was  not  baptized,  as  he  said 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  57 

he  wished  to  examine  into  the  extraordinary 
subject  fully  before  he  could  believe. 

"After  the  baptism,  the  whole  company  dis- 
persed in  groups,  and  the  prophet  returned  into 
the  wilderness  till  the  cool  of  the  evening,  where 
his  repast  was  the  wild  honey  of  the  desert,  and 
the  locust-berry  of  the  ravines.  When  he  reap- 
peared, he  again  spoke  to  an  increased  multi- 
tude. In  this  second  sermon,  he  explained  more 
clearly  the  application  of  the  glittering  chain  of 
prophecies  he  had  given  utterance  to  in  the 
morning  to  Messias,  and  thus  enabled  me  to  see 
more  clearly  the  true  character  of  the  expected 
Messias"  than  I  had  before  done." 

With  this  remark  of  his,  dear  father,  I  close 
my  long  letter.  I  make  no  comments.  I  will 
only  say,  that  my  expectations  are  actively 
awake,  and  that  I  am  looking,  with  thousands  of 
others,  for  the  near  advent  of  the  Messiah. 
lYour  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER  V, 

My  Dear  Father: — Although  but  three  days 
have  elapsed  since  I  completed  my  last  letter  to 
you,  I  am  so  solicitous  to  have  your  judgment 
and  counsel  upon  the  remarkable  events  now 
occupying  the  public  mind  of  Israel,  that  I  can- 
not withhold  giving  you  the  further  relation  of 
the  remaining  circumstances  connected  with  the 
visit  of  Mary's  cousin,  John,  to  the  divine 
prophet  of  Jordan.  Inasmuch  as  his  words  have 
made  a  deep  impression  upon  my  mind,  and 
moved  me  to  believe  witH  him  in  the  truth  of 
this  prophet's  words,  it  is  proper  that  you  should 
know  with  me  all  that  he  has  told  me,and  which 
have  influenced  my  feelings  and  opinions,  in 
order  that  you  may  judge  of  the  weight  and  value 
at  which  all  I  have  heard  is  to  be  estimated ;  and 
be  assured,  dear  father,  that  I  am  ready  to  be 
governed  in  all  things  by  your  wisdom  and 
learning.  Listen,  then,  with  your  usual  good- 


THE   PKINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.  59 

ness,  to  the  residue  of  this  young  man's  narra- 
tion. 

"After  the  prophet  had  ended  his  second  dis- 
course, and  baptized  two  hundred  more  in  the 
sparkling  waters  of  Jordan,"  resumed  the  elo- 
quent cousin  of  Mary,  "he  sent  them  away  to  the 
city  to  lodge  and  buy  meat;  for  few,  in  their 
eagerness  to  hear  him,  had  brought  provisions 
with  them.  Many,  before  leaving  him,  drew 
near  to  receive  his  blessing  of  love,  and  it  was 
touching  to  see  venerable  men,  with  locks  shin- 
ing like  silver,  and  leaning  upon  a  staff,  bend 
their  aged  heads  before  the  youthful  Elias,  as  if 
in  acknowledgment  of  his  divine  commission. 
Mothers  also  brought  their  infants,  that  he 
might  bless  them ;  and  youth  and  maidens  knelt 
reverently  at  his  feet  in  tears  of  love  and  peni- 
tence. Calmly  he  stood  upon  the  green  shores, 
like  an  angel  alighted  upon  earth,  and  blessed 
them  in  words  all  new  to  our  ears,  but  which 
thrilled  to  our  hearts  with  some  secret  power 
that  agitated  us  with  trembling  joy. 

"  'In  the  name  of  the  Lamb  of  God,  I  bless 
thee!' 

"What  can  be  the  meaning  of  these  words?" 
asked  Mary,  with  her  gentle  earnestness.  Her 
betrothed  could  only  reply,  that  he  knew  not. 

"At  length,  one  after  another,  the  multitude 
departed,  save  a  few  who  encamped  beneath 
trees  on  the  banks  of  the  river.  Joseph  of  Ari- 
mathea  and  I  were  left  almost  alone,  standing 
near  the  prophet,  and  regarding  him  with  rever- 
ential curiosity.  The  sun  was  just  disappearing' 


CO  THE  PRINCE   Or  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  * 

over  the  distant  towers  of  Jericho,  and  painting 
with  the  richest  purple  the  hills  between  the 
river  and  Jerusalem.  Jordan,  catching  its  red- 
dening radiance,  rolled  past  like  a  river  of  liquid 
gold  embanked  in  emerald.  The  brow  of  the 
prophet,  lighted  up  by  a  sun-ray  that  shone  be- 
tween the  branches  of  a  pomegranate  tree, 
seemed  like  the  face/  of  Moses  when  he  came 
down  from  Sinai,  a  glory  of  light.  He  appeared 
rapt  in  heavenly  meditation,  and  we  stood  silent 
and  gazed  upon  him,  not  daring  to  speak.  At 
length  he  turned  towards  us,  smiled,  and  salut- 
ing us,  grasped  the  crook  or  staff  on  which  he 
had  been  leaning,  for  he  was  weary  and  pale 
with  his  labors  of  the  day,  and  slowly  walked 
down  the  shore  in  the  direction  of  the  wilder- 
ness. He  had  not  advanced  many  steps  when  I 
felt  an  irresistible  impulse  to  follow  him.  I 
burned  to  talk  with  him — to  sit  at  his  feet,  and 
ask  him  questions  about  the  great  things  I  had 
heard  him  utter  in  both  of  his  discourses!  I 
•wished  him  to  explain  and  unfold  what  had 
seemed  mysterious,  and  yet  teeming  with  mighty 
revelations.  I  panted  for  light — for  knowledge. 
I  yearned  to  have  him  open  the  Scriptures  to  me, 
and  give  me  that  illuminated  understanding  of 
them  which  he  possessed.  I  therefore  said  to  my 
companion: 

"  'Let  us  follow  him,  and  learn  more  of  these 
great  things,  which  we  have  this  day  heard/ 

"Joseph,  like  myself,  being  anxious  to  hold 
converse  with  him,  at  once  assented,  and  we  pro- 
ceeded slowly  after  him,  as  he  moved  in  a  con- 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  61 

templative  mood  along  the  desert  path.  The 
sun  had  already  gone  down,  and  the  full  moon 
rose  on  the  opposite  shore,  and  the  prophet 
stopped  as  if  to  gaze  upon  its  autumnal  beauty. 
We  drew  near  to  him.  He  beheld  us,  but  did 
not  avoid  us;  seeing  which  I  advanced  with  timid 
confidence,  and  said: 

"  'Holy  prophet  of  the  Most  High  God,  wilt 
thou  permit  two  young  men  of  Israel  to  speak  to 
thee,  for  our  hearts  yearn  towards  thee  with 
love?' 

"  'And  we  would  fain  keep  thee  company  in 
the  desert,  Rabbi,'  added  Joseph,  'for  it  does  not 
seem  well  for  thee  to  dwell  thus  alone.' 

'  'But  chiefly,'  said  I,  'we  would  inquire  of  thee 
touching  the  advent  of  the  Mighty  Personage 
whose  near  coming  thou  dost  foretell.' 

"  'Friends,'  said  the  prophet,  in  a  calm  and 
serene  manner,  'I  am  a  dweller  in  the  desert,  and 
alone,  from  choice.  I  approach  men  only  to  pro- 
claim my  message.  The  delights  of  earth  are 
not  for  me.  My  mission  is  one.  Its  duration  is 
short.  Its  aim  worthy  the  greatest  prophet  of 
God,  yet  am  I  the  least  of  them,  not  worthy  to 
be  called  a  prophet;  and  before  the  splendor  of 
Him  whom  I  announce  to  the  world,  I  am  the 
dust  of  the  balance.  If  thou  hast  sought  me  to 
search  after  knowledge,  come  and  sit  down  with 
me  upon  this  rock,  and  let  me  hear  what  thou 
hast  to  say,  that  I  may  answer  thee  and  go  my 
way.' 

"This  was  said  softly,  gently,  almost  sadly,  and 
in  a  tone  that  made  me  love  him  more  and  more. 


€2  THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

I  could  have  cast  myself  upon  his  bosom  and 
wept  there;  for  I  was  deeply  touched  that  one 
should  be  chosen  by  Jehovah  to  become  his 
prophet  to  earth,  and  yet  show  such  lowliness  of 
heart  and  sincere  humility.  We  seated  our- 
selves, one  on  either  side  of  him,  for  he  refused 
to  permit  us  to  place  ourselves  upon  the  ground 
at  his  feet,  saying  reproachfully,  as  he  did  to 
those  whom  he  had  seen  kneel  to  him,  'I  also  am 
a  man!'  The  scene  and  the  hour  were  well  fitted 
for  such  a  converse  as  we  were  about  to  hold. 
The  broad  disc  of  the  moon  poured  a  flood  of 
orange-tinted  radiance  full  upon  us,  and  lent  a 
hallowed  softness  to  the  divine  countenance  of 
the  youthful  prophet.  The  Jordan,  dark  as 
India's  dye,  darted  swiftly  past  at  our  feet,  be- 
tween its  deeply-shaded  banks,  sending  up  to  our 
ears  the  faintest  murmur  of  its  pebbly  passage. 
Above  our  heads  swelled  the  vaulted  arch  of  the 
Temple  of  Jehovah,  with  its  myriad  of  altar  fires. 
To  our  left  lay  Jericho,  just  visible,  looking  like 
a  black  mass  of  castellated  rock,  unilluminated 
save  by  a  single  watch-fire  which  burned  upon 
its  loftiest  tower.  Behind  us  stretched  the  des- 
ert waste,  cheerless  and  yet  grand,  in  its  desolate 
distances.  Afar  off  rose  upon  the  air,  and  was 
borne  to  us  at  intervals,  the  voice  of  a  singer  in 
one  of  the  camps;  and  near  us,  upon  an  acacia 
tree,  sat  a  solitary'bulbul,  which  ceaselessly  sang 
its  sweet  and  varied  hymn  to  the  listening  moon. 
"  'All  things  praise  God — shall  we  be  silent?' 
said  the  prophet.  'Let  us  sing  the  evening 
hymn  of  the  Temple.'  He  then  commenced,  in 


TUB  PUINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  63 

a  rich,  melodious  chant,  such  as  I  had  never 
heard  from  the  priests,  our  sacred  psalm  to  the 
whole  creation  of  God.  We  joined  our  voices 
with  his,  and  the  tide  of  praise  floated  over  the 
waters,  and  echoed  and  re-echoed  from  the  op- 
posing- shores,  as  if  the  banks  and  stream,  trees, 
hills  and  sky,  had  found  voice  as  well  as  we: 

*  'Praise !  praise !   praise  ye  the  Lord ! 

Praise  Him  in  the  heights!     Praise  Him  in  the  seas  I 
Praise  Him  men  of  Israel !     Praise  ye  the  Lord ! 
For  He  exalteth  high  His  people, 
And  reigneth  evermore ! 

Praise  Him  all  ye  angels!     Praise  Him  all  ye  hosts! 
Praise  Him  sun  and  moon,  and  all  ye  stars  of  light ! 
Praise  Him  fire  and  hail !     Praise  Him  storm  and  snows  I 
For  He  judgeth  the  earth  in  righteousness, 
And  reigneth  evermore ! 

Praise !  praise !  praise  ye  the  Lord ! 

Praise  Him  winged  fowl,  and  herds,  cattle  and  all  beasts!  i 
Praise  Him  kings  and  people,  princes,  priests,  and  judges! 
Praise  Him  youths  and  maidens,  old  men  and  young  children  I 

Praise  the  name,  let  them  praise  the  name, 
Praise  the  name  of  the  Lord  God  of  Hosts ! 
For  His  name  alone  is  excellent, 
His  glory  above  the  heavens : 
Israel  is  His  first  born — a  people  well -beloved  I 
JPraise !  let  Israel,  therefore,  praise  Him  I 
Praise  Him  evermore, 
Evermore, 

Ever,  evermore . 


64  THE   PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

"Never  shall  I  forget  the  effect  produced  upon 
-my  inmost  being  by  this  hymn,  sung  at  such  a 
time,  and  in  such  a  place,  and  in  such  a  company. 
The  prophet  sang  as  if  he  was  leading  a  choir  of 
angels.  My  heart  leaped  at  the  chorus,  as  if  it 
would  break  out,  take  wing,  and  leave  the  earth ! 
When  we  called  on  the  winds  and  the  fowls  of 
the  air  to  praise  Jehovah  with  us,  it  may  be 
fancy,  but  the  thrilling  voice  of  the  bulbul 
seemed  to  pour  from  its  throat  a  wilder,  richer, 
more  joyous  tide  of  song,  and  the  audible  wind 
bent  the  adoring  trees,  and  mingled  its  mystic 
whispers  with  the  psalm  of  men!  Surely, 
thought  I,  it  is  good  for  me  to  be  here,  for  this  is 
none  other  than  the  gate  of  Paradise! 

"After  a  few  moments'  silence,  the  prophet 
spoke  and  said: 

"  'You  sought  me,  brethren  of  Israel,  can  I  do 
aught  for  you?' 

"  'We  would  hear  more,  great  prophet,  touch- 
ing this  mighty  man,  if  man  he  may  be  termed, 
who  is  to  come  after  thee,'  said  Joseph. 

"I  can  tell  thee  but  little,  my  brethren,  save 
what  thou  hast  heard  from  me  this  day.  The 
future  is  veiled.  I  bear  a  message,  indeed,  but  I 
may  not  break  the  seal  and  read.  I  am  but  the 
courier  of  God  to  man.  To  you  it  will  be  given 
to  know  what  is  now  unknown  to  me.  Happy, 
thrice  happy  are  ye  who  will  behold  face  to  face 
the  Divine  One  whom  I  can  only  behold  afar  off. 
If  it  be  permitted  me  to  see  him,  it  will  be  but  for 
.a  brief  space,  for  when  he  cometh  I  depart,  my 
errand  is  done.  Blessed  are  those  who  live  to 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  65 

witnesr  his  glory,  and  to  hear  the  gracious  voice 
of  God  that  proceeds  from  his  annointed  lips.' 

"  'When  will  be  his  advent,  and  with  what 
form  and  power  cometh  this  Divine  Being?'  I 
asked. 

"  'As  a  man,  but  not  with  comeliness  of  form- 
that  men  should  desire  him.  His  appearance 
will  be  humble,  lowly,  and  meek/ 

'  'Yet,  you  say  to-day,  Rabbi/  I  continued, 
'that  his  power  should  be  infinite,  and  that  of  his 
kingdom  there  should  be  no  end.  You  spoke  of 
the  glory  of  his  dominions,  and  the  humiliation 
of  Gentile  kings  beneath  his  sceptre/ 

"  'This  I  cannot  explain — it  is  a  mystery  to 
me!  I  speak  as  God,  by  whom  I  am  sent,  gives 
me  utterance.  I  know  that  He  who  cometh  after 
me  is  greater  than  I,  the  latchet  of  whose  shoes 
I  am  not  worthy  to  unloose!' 

"  'You  taught  us  this  evening  that  he  would  be 
the  Lord  from  Heaven ;  and  yet  that  Esaias  saith 
he  will  be  despised  and  rejected  of  men,  wounded 
for  our  transgressions,  and  bruised  for  our  ini- 
quities!' 

"  'The  spirit  of  God  teaches  me  that  these 
words  apply  to  Shiloh ;  but  I  cannot  comprehend 
how  these  things  can  be,'  he  answered,  with  deep 
sadness. 

"  'May  I  remind  you,  good  Rabbi/  said 
Joseph,  'that  you  taught  us  how  that  this  Divine 
Personage  should  die,  though  Lord  of  Life,  and 
be  numbered  in  his  death  with  transgressors^ 
though  the  Holy  One  of  God!' 

"  'And    such    will    be    the    events    that    are 


86  THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

ordained  to  happen;  but  seek  not  to  know  what 
no  man  hath  had  revealed  to  him.  The  Divine 
Messiah  himself  must  be  his  own  interpreter. 
Blessed  will  be  the  eyes  that  behold  Him,  and 
listen  to  the  wisdom  of  His  mouth,  and  keep  the 
law  of  His  lips!' 

"  'May  I  ask  you,  holy  prophet  of  the  Lord/ 
said  Joseph,  'how  is  it  that  He  whom  you  are 
sent  by  God  to  bear  witness  to  can  be  the  Deliv- 
erer of  Israel,  when  you  predict  for  him  so  sad  a 
fate?  Messiah  is  to  restore  Jerusalem,  and  the 
glory  of  the  Temple,  and  the  splendor  of  its  wor- 
ship, so  saith  Esaias,  so  say  Ezra  and  Jeremiah. 
He  is  called  a  Mighty  Prince,  a  King,  the 
Redeemer  of  Israel,  who  shall  rule  the  nations 
and  have  dominion  from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  the 
river  to  the  ends  of  the  earth !  We,  therefore,  in 
the  Messiah  of  the  Prophets,  have  looked  for  a 
powerful  potentate,  who  shall  reign  in  Jerusalem 
over  the  whole  earth,  and  subdue  all  nations, 
bringing  their  kings  captive  at  his  foot-stool,  and 
binding  their  princes  with  chains;  before  whom 
every  knee  shall  do  homage — a  Monarch  who 
shall  not  leave  a  heathen  sandal  to  tread  on  the 
sacred  soil  of  Judea,  and  who  shall  establish  the 
worship  of  Jehovah  in  every  place  where  now 
rises  a  temple  of  idolatry.' 

"  'His  kingdom  is  not  of  this  earth,'  answered 
the  prophet,  impressively. 

"  'How,  then,  can  we  interpret  the  Prophet 
David,  who  maketh  the  Lord  to  say:  I  have  set 
my  King  upon  my  holy  hill  of  Zion.  Also,  how 
shall  we  interpret  those  sayings  of  Esaias,  who, 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE    HOUSE   OP   DAVID.  67 

prophesying  of  the  blessed  Christ  of  Cod,  hath 
these  words: 

"  'Of  the  increase  of  his  government  and  peace 
there  shall  be  no  end,  upon  the  throne  of  David, 
and  upon  his  kingdom,  to  order  it  and  to  estab- 
lish it  with  judgment  and  with  justice,  from 
henceforth,  even  forever?' 

"  'I  know  not.  These  secrets  are  with  God. 
I  can  reveal  nothing.  I  am  but  the  trumpet 
through  which  Jehovah  speaks;  I  know  not  the 
words  I  utter.  This  I  know,  that  the  least  child 
and  lowliest  hireling  that  liveth  in  the  day  of 
Messias  is  greater  than  I.  I  am  the  last  of  the 
prophets.  I  stand  on  the  threshhold  of  that 
glorious  kingdom,  the  greatness  and  brightness 
of  which  they  saw  afar  off,  like  some  heavenly, 
indistinct  vision.  Nearer  than  they,  I  am  per- 
mitted to  catch  clearer  glimpses  of  its  glory,  and 
it  may  be  vouchsafed  to  me  to  see  more  than  I 
now  see ;  but  of  this  I  have  no  certain  revelation. 
It  is  for  me  to  open  the  last  door  that  leads  out 
from  the  night  of  prophecy  into  the  glorious 
dawn  of  the  day  of  fulfilment;  but  I  am  not  per- 
mitted to  enter  beyond  the  threshhold,  or  share 
in  its  blessings.  All  who  come  after  me  will  be 
preferred  before  me.  But  the  will  of  Jehovah  be 
obeyed!  I  am  his  creature,  and  to  murmur  be- 
comes not  dust.  Rather  let  me  rejoice  that  the 
day-star  is  about  to  rise,  though  his  beams  shine 
on  all  the  earth  but  me!'  This  was  said  with  the 
most  touching  pathos. 

"We  were  both  deeply  moved,  I,  myself,  even 
to  tears,  at  hearing  these  words  spoken  by  him. 


68  THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

My  heart  yearned  towards  him  with  the  most 
sacred  sympathy.  I  sank  on  my  knees,  and  kiss- 
ing his  hand,  bathed  it  with  my  tears. 

He  gently  raised  me,  and  said  in  a  sweet  voice 

"  'Brother  beloved,  thou  shalt  see  Him  to 
whom  I  bear  witness,  and  he  will  love  thee,  and 
thou  shalt  repose  in  his  bosom!'  At  this  say- 
ing," continued  the  cousin  of  Mary,  whose  voice 
was  tremulous  with  lively  sensibility  as  he  spoke 
hereof,  "I  burst  into  tears;  and,  rising,  I  walked 
a  little  ways  apart,  and  lifting  up  my  eyes 
towards  heaven,  I  prayed  the  God  of  our  fathers 
that  I  might  be  found  worthy  of  this  blessed 
honor." 

"  'And  shall  I  also  behold  this  mighty  Son  of 
God?'  asked  Joseph,  with  solicitude. 

"The  prophet  took  his  hand  in  his,  and  fixing 
upon  him  his  eyes  of  prophetic  brightness,  said 
slowly,  and  in  tones  awe-inspiring  and  painfully 
sorrowful : 

"  Thou  shalt  one  day  bear  him  in  thy  arms, 
and  lay  him  upon  a  couch,  which  thou  hast  pre- 
pared for  thine  own  repose.  Thou  knowest  not 
now  what  I  say,  but  thou  shalt  remember  it  when 
it  cometh  to  pass!' 

"When  he  had  thus  spoken,  he  rose,  and  wav- 
ing his  hand  to  us  both,  he  walked  rapidly  away 
towards  the  desert,  and  was  soon  lost  to  the  eye 
in  the  obscurity  of  the  darkness  which  hung  over 
it. 

"  '  Didst  thou  hear  him?'  at  length,  after  some 
minute's  pause,  asked  Joseph  of  me.  'What  can 
his  words  mean?  they  are  prophetic  of  some 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  69 

fearful  event.  His  eyes  betrayed  some  terrible 
meaning.  My  heart  is  troubled.' 

"  'And  mine  rejoiceth/  I  answered.  'We  shall 
see  Him!  I  shall  be  near  Him!  Oh,  if  he  be 
like  this  sweet  prophet  of  God,  I  shall  love  him 
with  all  my  soul's  being.  How  wonderful  that 
we  are  to  be  thus  associated  with  this  Divine 
Person!  Welcome  the  hour  of  his  blessed 
advent!' 

"  'Wilt  thou  welcome  the  advent  of  a  sufferer?' 
said  a  voice  so  near  that  it  startled  us  by  its 
abruptness;  and,  looking  round,  we  saw,  stand- 
ing within  the  shadow  of  a  wild  olive  tree,  a 
young  man  who  was  a  stranger,  but. to  whom  I 
afterwards  became  deeply  attached.  His  face 
was  pale  and  intellectual,  and  his  form  slight,  but 
of  the  most  symmetrical  elegance.  His  question 
at  once  made  me  sorrowful,  for  it  recalled  the  sad 
prophecies  of  Esaias. 

"  'He  is  also  to  be  King  and  Monarch  of  the 
world,  and  infinitely  holy  and  good,'  I  said.  'If 
thou  hast  been  near,  thou  hast  heard  the  glorious 
things  the  prophet  has  spoken  of  Him.' 

"  'I  have  been  near — I  was  reclining  beneath 
this  tree,  when  you  seated  yourselves  there.  Be 
not  deceived.  The  divine  man  who  is  to  come 
is  to  be  a  man  of  sorrows  and  acquainted  with 
grief.  He  is  to  be  rejected  by  Israel,  and 
despised  by  Judah.  Those  whom  he  comes  to 
bless  will  despise  him  for  his  lowliness  and 
obscurity.  His  life  will  be  a  life  of  tears,  and 
toil,  and  heaviness  of  heart,  and  he  will  at  last  be 
cut  off  from  among  the  living,  with  the  ignominy; 


70  THE   PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

due  only  to  a  transgressor.  Dost  thou  welcome 
the  advent  of  a  sufferer?' 

"  'But  how  knowest  thou  this?  Art  thou  a 
prophet?'  I  asked,  with  surprise  and  admiration. 

"  'No,  brother,  but  I  have  read  the  Prophets. 
I  heard,  moreover,  the  words  of  this  holy  man, 
sent  from  God,  and  he  dwells  more  on  the 
humility  of  Christ  than  on  his  kingly  grandeur. 
Believe  me,  the  kingdom  of  Shiloh  is  not  of  this 
world.  It  cannot  be  of  this  world,  if  such  is  to 
be  his  life  and  death ;  and  that  it  is  to  be  his  life, 
Esaias  clearly  states.  Let  me  read  to  you  his 
words.'  He  then  took  a  roll  of  parchment  from 
his  bosom,  and  read  by  moonlight  that  myste- 
rious and  inexplicable  passage,  which  beginneth 
with  the  words:  'Who  hath  believed  our 
report?'  When  he  had  ended,  and  perceived  the 
assenting  impression  he  had  made  upon  our 
minds,  he  resumed:  'This  is  not  the  history  of  a 
prosperous  earthly  monarch,  but  rather  the  pain- 
ful record  of  a  life  of  humiliation,  of  shame,  and 
of  contempt.' 

"  'But,  thou  dost  not  say,  brother,'  said 
Joseph,  with  some  warmth,  'that  the  sacred 
person  borne  witness  to  by  this  prophet  is  to  be 
an  object  of  contempt?' 

"  'Does  not  Esaias  say  that  he  will  be  despised, 
beaten  with  stripes,  rejected  of  men,  imprisoned, 
and  put  to  death  as  a  transgressor  of  the  law?' 

"  'There  can  be  no  question  but  that  Esaias 
speaks  of  the  Messiah,'  I  remarked. 

"  'This  prophet  of  Jordan  now  bears  full  testi- 
mony to  Esaias,  and  plainly  maketh  application 


THE   PRINCE  OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  71 

<of  his  words  to  Him  whom  he  has  come  before- 
hand to  proclaim,'  answered  the  young  man, 
\vith  singularly  graceful  eloquence  in  all  he  said. 
'Let  us,  who  have  been  baptized  this  day  for  the 
remission  of  our  sins,  expect  a  Messiah  of  sor- 
rows, not  a  conquering  prince.  Let  us  behold 
one  who  is  to  humble  himself  beneath  the  yoke 
of  human  infirmities,  that  he  may  be  exalted,  and 
draw  all  men  after  him  to  a  kingdom  in  the 
heavens/ 

"  'But,     the     throne     of     David,'  —  objected 
Joseph — 

"  'Is  at  the  right  hand  of  God.' 
"  'But    Jerusalem,    and    its    rule    over    the 
nations — ' 

"  'Jerusalem  that  is  above,  is  above  all.' 
"  'But  his  kingdom  that  is  to  be  everlasting — ' 
"  'Is  where  life  is  everlasting.  How  can  he 
rule  an  everlasting  realm  here  on  earth,  without 
living  forever,  and  his  subjects  also?  Read  not 
the  prophets  so.  As  Adam  fell  and  lost  Para- 
dise, so  Messias,  like  a  second  Adam,  must,  as 
man,  humble  himself  in  human  nature,  to  atone 
for  our  guilt ;  and  having  made  full  atonement  for 
us  by  his  life  and  his  death,  he  will  purchase  the 
kingdom  of  Paradise  for  the  race  of  man;  but  he 
restores  it  to  us  not  on  earth,  but  translated  on 
high,  where  the  angels  still  guard  it  in  the  king- 
dom of  God.  It  is  this  kingdom  which  this 
prophet  proclaims  as  being  at  hand,  and  the  path 
to  which  our  leader  and  king  can  only  tread 
throup-h  the  mire  of  Adam's  sin,  which  spreads 
through  this  world ;  but  without  taint  of  sin  upon 


72  THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

his  robes.  He  being  the  bearer  of  our  iniquities, 
we  shall  thereby  escape  their  chastisement. 
Healed  by  his  stripes,  we  shall  be  free  from  the 
penalty  which  our  sins  demand.  Laid  upon  him 
will  be  the  transgressions  of  the  world;  and  by 
one  mighty  sacrifice  of  himself,  thus  laden,  as  a 
sin-offering,  he  shall  make  atonement  for  the 
great  family  of  Adam,  and  restore  our  race  to 
reconciliation  with  Jehovah.  Such  is  to  be  our 
looked-for  Messiah.  Alas,  while  we  look  for 
him,  let  us  mingle  tears  with  our  gladness,  and 
humble  ourselves,  that  one  so  holy  and  excellent 
should  be  destined  to  endure  these  things  for  our 
sakes;  and  when  we  behold  him,  let  us  sink  at  his 
feet  in  grateful  adoration  of  his  love  and  charity, 
of  his  mercy  and  goodness,  of  his  noble  self- 
denial  and  voluntary  upgiving  of  himself  as  a 
sacrifice  for  us;  for  there  could  be  no  higher  or 
more  valuable  victim  than  he  in  the  universe  of 
God;  therefore,  he  hath  offered  himself,  accord- 
ing to  the  words  of  the  prophet,  recording  his 
offer,  Lo,  I  come  to  do  thy  will,  O  God!' 

"When  the  young  man  had  spoken,  he  walked 
away.  Impelled  by  an  unconquerable  impulse, 
I  followed,  and  took  him  in  my  arms,  and 
embracing  him,  said:  'Of  a  truth  thou  art  a 
prophet!  Thy  words  come  home  to  my  heart 
like  the  echo  of  ancient  prophecy.' 

"  'Nay.  I  have  learned  these  things  from  the 
study  of  the  Scripture,'  he  said,  with  angelic 
candor  and  modesty.  'But  I  have  been  aided, 
how  much  I  have  no  words  to  tell  thee,  by  one 
who  hath  wisdom  and  truth  abiding  in  him  above 


THE  PRINCE   OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.  73 

afl  men,  and  whom  it  is  my  happiness  to  have 
my  bosom  friend,  as  he  is  near  my  own  age.  If 
I  am  wise,  or  virtuous,  or  good,  or  know  the 
Scriptures,  it  is  that  he  hath  been  my  counsellor 
and  teacher/ 

"  'What  is  his  name?'  I  asked,  'for  I  also  would 
go  and  learn  of  him.' 

"  'He  withdraws  from  the  public  eye,  and  hath 
little  converse  with  but  few,  and  shuns  all  notice. 
Without  his  permission  I  could  not  take  thee  to 
him.  Yet  I  will  ask  him,  if  you  desire  it.' 

'  'What  is  his  appearance,  and  where  doth  he 
dwell?'  I  inquired,  more  deeply  interested. 

"  'He  abides  at  present  at  Bethany,  my  own 
city.  He  is  so  beloved  by  us,  that  we  detain  him 
as  our  guest.  But  he  dwelleth  at  other  times 
with  his  mother,  a  holy  widow  of  great  sanctity 
and  matronly  dignity,  living  at  Nazareth,  in 
humble  condition,  and  he  contributes  by  labor  to 
her  support,  with  the  most  exemplary  filial  piety ; 
thus  setting  an  example  to  the  young  men  of 
Judah,  who  in  this  age  make  a  mock  of  parental 
restraint,  and  under  the  evil  practices  which  the 
free  license  of  the  wicked  custom  of  Corban 
giveth,  neglect  them,  and  no  more  do  aught  for 
their  father  or  mother.  Indeed,  no  person  ever 
approaches  and  speaks  with  him,  without  leaving 
him  a  wiser  and  better  man.' 

"  'Verily/  said  both  Joseph  and  I  together, 
'you  have  only  increased  our  desire  to  behold 
him.  His  appearance  must  be  noble/ 

"  'He  possesseth  neither  beauty  of  form  nor 
comeliness  to  strike  the  eye;  but  there  sits  upon 


74  THE  PRIXCE  OP  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

his  brow  a  serene  dignity,  tempered  with  mild- 
ness, that  commands  the  respect  of  age,  and  wins 
the  confiding  love  of  childhood.  His  eyes  beam 
with  a  light,  calm  and  pure,  as  if  shining  from 
interior  holy  thoughts,  and  they  rest  upon  you, 
when  he  speaks,  with  a  tenderness  of  love  that  is 
like  the  dewy  light  of  the  young  mother's  gaze, 
when  she  bends  in  silent  happiness  and  tears 
over  the  face  of  her  first-born.  He  never  smiles, 
or  rather  his  face  is  one  soft  sunshine  of  smiling 
rays,  tempered  in  an  indescribable  manner  with 
a  settled  look  of  sadness,  an  almost  imperceptible 
shade  of  permanent  sorrow,  that  seems  to  fore- 
shadow a  life  of  trial  and  suffering.  When  he 
reads  from  the  Phrophets,  and  unfolds  to  us  with 
a  wisdom  that  we  can  regard  only  as  given  him 
from  heaven,  the  great  truths  that  relate  to  the 
long-looked-for,  and,  as  we  now  believe,  the 
near-present  Messiah,  he  seems  to  speak  by 
inspiration,  yet  without  emotion,  but  calmly  and 
naturally,  in  a  low- toned  voice,  that  s>  never 
lifted  up  at  any  time,  nor  ever  heard  in  the 
streets.' 

"  'He  must  be  another  prophet/  said  Joseph, 
with  deep  earnestness. 

"  'He  does  not  prophecy,  nor  preach,'  an- 
swered the  young  man. 

"  'What  is  his  name?'  I  asked. 

"  'Jesus,  the  Nazarene!' 

"We  both  promised  to  remember  this  name; 
and  as  our  way  to  Jerusalem  lay  through 
Bethany,  we  wished  much  to  call  and  see  him} 
but  this  step  the  young  man  mildly  objected  to, 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  75 

until,  he,  having  made  known  our  wishes  to  him, 
he  then  might,  if  he  desired  to  see  us,  send  into 
Jerusalem  for  us  to  go  to  Bethany. 

"As  the  young  man  was  then  about  to  move 
away,  I  asked  him  his  name,  as  he  had  greatly 
drawn  out  my  heart  towards  him,  and  I  felt  that 
if  I  could  be  his  friend,  and  the  friend  of  the  wise 
young  man  of  Nazareth,  who  sojourned  with 
him,  I  should  be  perfectly  happy,  and  have  no- 
other  desire — save,  indeed,  to  live  till  the  Mes- 
siah came,  that  I  might  behold  him,  and  lay  my 
head  upon  his  sacred  bosom. 

"  'My  name  is  Lazarus,  the  Scribe,'  he 
answered,  as  he  took  his  leave." 

"What,"  interrupted  Mary,  when  her  cousin 
had  spoken  this  name,  "then  I  know  him  well. 
It  is  the  brother  of  Mary  and  Martha,  both  my 
friends  at  Bethany,  where  I  passed  a  week  last 
year,  just  before  the  Passover." 

"I  arn  glad  to  hear  that,"  said  John,  "for  this 
will  be  a  closer  bond  of  friendship  between  us. 
The  next  day  we  renewed  our  acquaintance,  and 
after  three  days,  departed  together  homeward. 
Upon  arriving  at  Bethany,  he  learned  that  his 
friend  had  gone  to  Cana,  in  Galilee,  on  a  visit 
with  his  mother,  to  the  house  of  one  of  her  kins- 
folk, whose  daughter  is  in  a  few  weeks  to  be 
married." 

Having  now,  my  dear  father,  communicated 
to  you  all  that  John  related  to  us,  you  will  see 
what  grounds  there  are  to  look  upon  the  prophet 
of  Jordan  as  a  man  sent  from  God',  or  to  believe 
that  he  is  the  true  Elias,  whom  Malachi  hath 


76  THE  PRINCE  OP  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

foretold,  and  who,  as  the  most  learned  of  the 
Scribes  say,  must  first  come  to  proclaim  the 
approach  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  the  Shiloh  of 
Israel's  hopes.  My  emotions,  my  ideas,  my 
opinions,  at  present,  are  conflicting  and  full  of 
indecision.  On  one  hand,  I  am  ready  to  become 
one  of  John  of  Jordan's  disciples,  and  be  bap- 
tized of  him,  looking  with  faith  unto  Him  who  is 
to  come  after.  On  the  other  hand,  I  tremble  lest 
all  should  be  a  delusion,  for  it  does  not  seem  pos- 
sible that  it  is  my  lot  to  live  in  that  blessed  age 
when  Messiah  cometh,  a  period  toward  which  all 
the  patriarchs  and  prophets  have  looked,  desir- 
ing to  see  His  day,  but  died  without  possessing 
the  promise,  beholding  it  only  afar  off.  The  , 
infinite  greatness  of  this  privilege  is  all  that 
causes  me  to  doubt.  Instruct  me,  dear  father; 
open  to  me  the  treasures  of  your  wisdom.  Thou 
art  read  in  the  prophets.  Doth  the  youthful 
prophet  of  the  wilderness  truly  use  their  predic- 
tions in  their  application  to  Messias?  Is  it  that 
the  intellectual  Lazarus  truly  drew  the  sad  por- 
traiture of  His  dark  career  on  earth?  How  are 
the  opposing  prophecies  to  be  reconciled  in 
another  manner  than  the  young  man  of  Bethany 
has  unfolded  them?  Explain  to  me  one  other 
interpretation,  dear  father,  how  he  can  be  both 
king  and  a  prisoner!  Lord  of  life,  yet  suffer 
death !  With  a  kingdom  .boundless  as  the  world, 
yet  despised  and  contemned  of  men ! 

The  account  brought  by  John  has  set  Rabbi 
Amos  to  studying  the  Prophets,  and,  indeed,  all 
men  are  looking  into  them  with  interest 


TI1E   PRINCE  OF  THE   TTOTTSE   OF  DAVID.  77 

unknown  before;  for  the  multitudes  that  go  away 
from  the  new  prophet,  noise  his  predictions 
abroad,  throughout  all  the  land.  May  God  be, 
indeed,  about  to  bless  his  people,  and  remember 
his  inheritance! 

ADINA. 


LETTER  VI 

My  dear  Father: — Health  and  peace  to  thet, 
and  all  my  friends  honored  and  beloved  in  Alex- 
andria!— I  have  again  seen  the  excellent  Ben 
Israel,  with  whom,  four  months  ago,  I  came 
from  Egypt,  to  sojourn  in  Jerusalem.  He  not 
only  delivered  to  me  your  letters,  with  the 
acceptable  gifts  you  kindly  sent  by  him,  but  also 
assured  me  of  your  welfare  in  all  things.  He  is 
at  present  absent  at  Damascus,  whither  he  went 
soon  after  his  arrival  here,  in  order  to  buy  the 
celebrated  Syrian  blades  of  that  city,  which  he? 
takes  down  to  Egypt  at  a  great  profit,  with  other 
merchandise.  He  assures  me  that  he  is  gaining 
much  wealth  by  his  caravans  of  commerce,  at 
which  I  rejoice,  for  he  is  an  amiable  and  worthy 
man.  His  entreaties,  that  I  would  return  to 
Alexandria  with  him,  would  nearly  have  over- 
come my  resolutions  of  remaining  here,  but  for 
the  commands  you  have  laid  upon  me  to  avail 
myself  of  the  peculiar  privileges  which  Jerusalem 


THE   PKINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  79 

affords  for  improving  the  mind;  and  were  it  not 
I  am  deeply  interested  in  the  issue  of.  the  great 
expectation  of  Israel.  Your  letter,  dear  father, 
commands  me  to  banish  this  "novelty"  from  my 
mind,  and  continue  humbly  to  worship  Jehovah 
after  the  manner  of  our  fathers.  I  trust  this  I 
shall  ever  do,  my  dear  father;  and  did  I  discover 
in  this  prophet  any  disposition  to  bring  in  a  new 
faith,  opposed  to  the  ancient  faith  of  Abraham, 
I  should  tremble  to  entertain  it  for  a  moment. 
"You  say  that  this  man  must  be  "a  false  and  base 
prophet,"  or  he  would  not  herald  a  master  so 
low  and  despised  as  he  professes  will  be  the 
Christ  he  bears  witness  to.  "There  have  been 
many  false  Christs  and  false  prophets,  my  child,'* 
you  add,  "and  Israel  has  run  after  them,  as  they 
now  run  after  this  John  of  Jordan,  and  the  result 
has  been,  that  they  have  either  perished  in  the 
•wilderness  or  been  cut  to  pieces,  with  their 
deceiver,  by  the  jealousy  of  the  Roman  Gover- 
nors, who  looked  upon  such  assemblies  as 
seditious.  Hold  fast,  my  child,  to  the  religion  of 
our  fathers,  and  be  not  carried  away,  as  I  fear 
/ou  are  in  danger  of  being,  by  this  wild  preacher 
of  repentance.  The  kingdom  of  Messias  is  not 
a  kingdom  of  repentance  and  of  humiliation,  but 
one  of  victory,  of  glory,  and  dominion.  Touch- 
ing those  prophecies  of  humility  and  abasement 
which  this  prophet  of  Jordan  applies  to  Messias, 
they  have  no  application  to  our  expected  Shiloh 
and  Prince.  They  either  apply  to  some  lesser 
prophet,  who  will  be  the  forerunner  of  the  true 
Christ  (for  that  he  will  have  a  forerunner,  the 


80  THE   PRIXCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

Scriptures  speak  too  plainly  for  doubting),  or,  as 
some  say  and  believe,  especially  do  the  Pharisees, 
there  are  to  be  two  Messiahs,  one  who  shall  come 
in  humiliation  and  suffering  to  the  Gentiles,  as  an 
atonement  for  the  expiation  of  their  sins,  and  one 
to  come  to  us  in  regal  power,  and  in  circum- 
stances of  glory  and  splendor,  such  as  no  poten- 
tate hath  ever  manifested,  and  who  shall  make 
Jerusalem  the  metropolis  of  the  globe,  and  the 
kings  of  the  earth  tributary  at  his  feet.  Such  is 
our  Messias,  whom  the  Lord  of  Hosts  send  us 
speedily,  to  lift  Judah  from  the  dust  of  her 
humiliation!  If  the  base  person  this  prophet  of 
the  desert  heralds  be  a  Messias,  he  is  one  to  the 
Gentiles  only,  whose  great  iniquities  need  the 
self  immolation  and  humiliation  of  one  come 
from  God,  in  atonement  herefor;  but  he  is  not  a 
Messiah  to  Israel,  nor  the  mighty  Prince  who 
shall  sit  in  David's  seat  on  the  throne  of  Zion. 
Therefore,  my  child,  you,  as  a  daughter  of  Israel, 
have  no  interest  in  this  novelty  that  cometh  out 
of  the  wilderness,  and  after  which  half  the  land 
hath  foolishly  run  mad.  Wait,  be  patient,  the 
day  of  Israel's  glory  shall  truly  arise  and  shine, 
and  all  nations  shall  see  it  and  rejoice.  Think 
no  more  of  what  thy  cousin  hath  told  thee. 
When  Messias  cometh,  He  will  be  heralded  by  a 
more  glorious  and  eminent  person  than  a  young 
man  of  thirty,  clothed  in  skins,  and  for  food  eat- 
ing locusts  and  wild  honey,  whose  origin  and 
authority  no  man  knoweth.  Believing  that  your 
good  sense  and  sound  judgment,  my  Adina,  will 
at  once  lead  you  to  adopt  my  views,  I  shall  not 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  81 

urge  them  further,  as  if  I  seriously  feared  your 
defection  from  the  house  of  your  fathers,  an 
event  which  would  bring  my  gray  hairs  down 
with  sorrow  to  the  grave.  It  is  my  belief  that 
this  prophet  preaches  only  himself,  and,  under 
the  mysterious  and  deceitful  notions  of  another 
to  come  after  him,  is  but  gathering  an  expectant 
multitude  around  him,  to  wield  them  as  instru- 
ments for  his  own  ambitious  ends;  and  by  the 
time  you  write  me  again,  I  expect  to  learn  from 
you  that  he  openly  proclaims  himself  the  Christ, 
after  all;  or  that  he,  with  all  who  are  led  by  him, 
will  be  destroyed  by  the  swords  of  the  Roman 
legions." 

How  can  I  write  to  you,  my  dear  father,  that 
which  is  now  rushing  to  my  pen,  after  such  an 
expression  of  your  sentiments  as  you  have  made 
in  this  extract  from  your  letter?  But  I  know 
you  are  wise,  and  will  not  evade  truth,  in  what- 
ever form  it  may  offer  itself  to  you,  and  I  there- 
fore, with  confidence  in  your  justice  and  wisdom, 
•will  faithfully  make  known  to  you  the  events 
relating  to  the  prophet  which  have  transpired, 
and  may  take  place  in  Judea  during  my  abode 
here.  Hear  me  always  with  candor,  and  judge 
without  partiality;  for  this  is,  without  doubt,  a 
day  of  wonderful  revelations.  I  fancy  that  I 
can  now  see  your  brow  darken,  and  that  you  say, 
"enough  of  this.  Are  we  to  have  more  of  this 
new  prophet?"  Yes,  my  dear  father,  more  still, 
and  more  extraordinary  circumstances  I  am 
about  to  relate  than  I  have  yet  written;  for  the 


&2  THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

very  priests  of  the  Temple  have  become  believers 
in  the  youthful  Seer. 

You  will  remember  how  that  John,  Mary's 
cousin,  stated  that  many  priests  and  others  were 
offended  at  the  plain  preaching  of  the  prophet, 
whom  they  went  out  into  the  wilderness  to  see. 
When  they  returned  to  Jerusalem,  and  made 
known  to  the  other  members  of  the  House  of  the 
Priests  what  had  been  spoken  against  them,  by 
the  application  to  them  of  the  words  of  Esaias 
and  Jeremias,  and  other  Prophets,  there  arose  at 
once  a  great  outcry  against  him.  Many  of  the 
Levites  even  forgot  their  duties  in  the  Temple, 
in  holding  discourse  with  the  Scribes  and  Phari- 
sees, and  others,  in  the  streets,  in  the  arches  of 
the  gates,  and  in  the  market-places,  touching  this 
new  prophet,  and  his  bold  denunciations  of 
them,  being  so  much  the  more  grieved  at  them 
because  they  were,  alas,  but  too  well  merited  by 
the  looseness  of  their  lives.  At  length,  Annas, 
who  is  High  Priest  with  Caiaphas,  sent  two  of 
the  most  learned  men  of  the  Temple,  Levites  of 
weight  of  character,  to  invite  the  prophet  to 
Jerusalem;  for  Annas  is  a  wise  man,  and  not 
easily  carried  away  by  popular  feeling;  and,  as 
Rabbi  Amos  hath  told  me,  he  is  disposed  to  look 
upon  the  preaching  of  John,  for  sucfi  is  his  name, 
with  a  serious  and  reverential  eye.  The  messen- 
gers returned  after  the  fifth  day,  and  made  their 
report  openly  in  tHe  Court  of  the  Temple,  where 
the  High  Priests  sat  to  receive  them,  expecting 
to  behold  the  prophet  in  their  comoanv.  At 
length,  the  assembly  being  convened,  the  two 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  83 

learned  and  venerable  Levites  both  rose  up,  and 
declared  that  they  had  delivered  the  message  to 
John,  the  son  of  Zacharias,  the  prophet  of  Jor- 
dan, and  that  his  answer  was  given  with  the 
reverence  due  to  the  station  of  the  High  Priest 
who  had  sent  to  him: 

"Go  and  say  to  the  noble  High  Priest,"  said 
he,  "that  I  am  the  voice  of  one  crying  in  the 
wilderness,  as  it  is  written  in  the  book  of  the 
words  of  Esaias,  the  Prophet,  who,  foreseeing 
my  day,  saith,  'The  voice  of  one  crying  in  the 
wilderness,  prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,  make 
his  paths  straight.'  All  flesh  will  soon  behold 
the  salvation  of  God.  My  errand  is  not  to  city 
nor  temple,  nor  into  any  house  of  Israel  will  I 
enter.  He  who  would  hear  my  testimony  to 
Him  who  is  to  come  after  me,  let  him  seek  me 
in  the  wilderness,  whence  only  I  am  commanded 
to  lift  up  my  voice  till  Shiloh  come." 

When  the  priests  heard  this  answer,  they  were 
greatly  enraged,  and  many  fiercely  cried  one 
thing,  and  many  another;  some  that  he  should 
be  sought  out  and  stoned  to  death  for  defying 
the  High  Priest  (which  he  did  not  do,  as  it  was 
for  him  to  obey  God  rather  than  man);  others, 
that  he  should  be  accused  to  the  Procurator, 
Pontius  Pilate,  Governor  of  Judea,  as  a  seditious 
and  dangerous  person,  and  fomentor  of  insur- 
rections. Caiaphas  was  of  the  latter  opinion, 
and  wrote,  from  his  tribunal,  an  epistle  to  the 
Roman  ruler,  making  accusation  hereof  against 
the  prophet  of  the  desert,  and  recommending 
him  to  secure  his  person,  lest  further  mischief 


84      THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

should  come  of  it;  adding,  that  Tiberius  Caesar, 
hearing  of  the  matter,  would  conceive  it  to  be  a 
movement  of  the  whole  Jewish  nation,  desirous 
of  casting  off  the  Roman  rule,  under  a  new  chief ; 
and  thus  bring  down  an  army  upon  the  land, 
utterly  to  destroy  it.  But  the  milder  Annas 
viewed  the  whole  matter  in  a  different  light,  and 
said: 

"Men  and  brethren — let  nothing  be  done 
hastily.  If  this  man  be  a  false  prophet,  he  will 
soon  perish  with  his  lies,  and  we  shall  hear  no 
more  of  him.  If,  peradventure,  as  it  would 
appear,  he  is  sent  from  God,  let  us  not  make 
haste  to  do  him  a  mischief,  lest,  haply,  we  be 
found  fighting  against  the  Lord  of  Hosts." 

This  moderation  found  favor  with  but  few,  but 
of  these  few,  Rabbi  Amos  was  one.  But  if  the 
priests  who  thronged  the  outer  court,  in  pres- 
ence of  the  High  Priest,  were  deeply  moved  at 
the  report  of  the  prophet's  answer,  their  excite- 
ment became  well  nigh  uncontrollable,  when 
both  Melchi  and  Heli,  their  messengers,  rose  up, 
waving  their  hands  for  silence,  and  declared, 
that,  after  having  listened  to  the  prophet  to 
whom  they  had  been  sent,  they  were  convinced 
'of  the  truth  of  his  words,  and  of  his  divine  com- 
mission, and  been  baptized  of  him  in  Jordan, 
^confessing  their  sins. 

Only  the  sanctity  of  the  Temple  prevented  the 
five  hundred  priests  rushing  upon  them,  and 
smiting  them  when  they  heard  this.  They  were 
at  once  placed  under  arrest  by  order  of  the  High 
Priest  Caiaphas,  for  acting  in  a  manner  unbe- 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  85 

coming  a  priest  of  the  Most  High  God:  "For," 
said  he,  "this  is  to  degrade  the  Temple  to  the  feet 
of  a  wandering  imposter,  and  is  an  open  acknow- 
ledgment that  virtue  hath  left  the  worship  of 
Zion,  and  must  be  sought  for  in  the  deserts  of 
Jordan.  Which,"  he  called  aloud,  "which,  men 
of  Israel,  is  the  greatest,  the  altar  of  the  Lord,  or 
the  waters  of  Jordan? — the  Priest  of  the  Most 
High,  or  he  of  the  wilderness?  Away  with  these 
recreant  blasphemers,  to  be  tried  and  adjudged 
according  to  our  sacred  laws."  The  people  who 
had  heard  John  preach,  hereupon  were  only 
prevented  from  rescuing  the  two  priests  by  the 
presence  of  a  guard  of  Roman  soldiers,  for  which 
Caiaphas  promptly  sent. 

From  this  account,  my  dear  father,  you  can 
form  some  idea  of  the  excitement  which  the 
preaching  of  this  new  prophet  is  producing 
among  all  classes.  The  poorer  sort  of  people 
are  his  advocates,  and  the  rich  and  the  rulers, 
the  priests  and  the  great  men  of  the  nation, 
oppose  him,  save  a  few  among  the  best  and  the 
wisest.  Of  these  few  is  Rabbi  Amos,  who  is 
engaged  all  the  time  he  is  not  on  duty  in  the 
Temple,  in  searching  the  Scriptures,  to  see  if 
these  things  are  so;  and  at  every  prophecy  he 
reads,  he  is  more  and  more  convinced  that  the 
day  of  Messias  is  at  hand,  and  that  this  prophet  is, 
without  doubt,  he  who  was  to  be  sent  from  God 
in  the  "spirit  and  power  of  Elias,"  to  prepare  the 
way  before  him.  Every  evening  there  are 
assembled  at  our  house  from  twelve  to  eighteen 
of  the  chief  men  of  the  Jews,  who  often  pass  half 


86  THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

the  night  in  warm  discussions  upon  these  great 
things ;  those  among  them  who  have  heard  John, 
being  disposed  to  give  him  the  high  rank  he 
claims,  as  forerunner  of  Shiloh.  Among  these 
is  Stephen,  a  man  whose  father  was  High  Priest, 
and  who  is  himself  a  lawyer  and  student  of  no 
mean  repute.  He  has  not  yet  heard  John,  the 
prophet,  but  he  openly  said  last  night  that,  after 
the  most  careful  examination  of  all  the  Prophets, 
he  was  firmly  of  the  opinion  that  the  day  of  their 
fulfilment  was  close  at  hand;  and  that,  for  his 
part,  he  was  willing  to  hail  the  prophet  of  Jordan 
,as  the  true  herald  of  Messias.  Hereupon,  two- 
,thirds  of  the  company  said  the  same  thing,  but 
the  others  doubted,  and  cautioned  the  rest  not 
ito  be  too  rash ;  that  it  was  time  enough  to  believe 
in  Messias  when  he  himself  should  come  in  his 
own  person. 

Such,  my  dear  father,  is  the  present  condition 
of  the  mind  of  the  people  of  Jerusalem.  If  the 
Prince  of  Glory  should,  indeed,  suddenly  appear, 
there  could  be  scarcely  more  excitement,  though 
it  would  be  of  a  different  nature.  There  is  some- 
thing sublime  to  see  a  young  man,  who  dwelleth 
alone  in  the  wilderness,  poor  and  unknown,  thus 
moving  the  great  heart  of  a  nation;  surely,  his 
power  must  be  divinely  derived.  You  ask  me, 
and  so  is  the  question  constantly  put  by  the 
Scribes,  and  Pharisees,  and  Priests,  to  the 
disciples  of  John:  "Does  he  perform  miracles r 
Show  me  a  miracle,  and  I  will  believe  in  him ;  for 
this  is  the  only  test  of  a  true  prophet's  Divine 
commission."  No,  dear  father,  he  has  per- 


JTHE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  87 

.ormed  no  miracle,  unless  it  be  one  continuous 
miracle,  whereby  he  keeps  in  the  wilderness  a 
multitude,  daily  enlarged,  from  the  outpouring 
gates  of  every  city  in  Judah,  listening  to  his 
words,  and  bowing  their  heads  to  the  sacred 
•waters  of  his  penetential  baptism. 

As  next  week  Rabbi  Amos  does  not  serve  in 
his  course  in  the  Temple,  and  as  he  will  have 
some  affairs  that  will  take  him  to  Gilgal,  where 
he  has  three  fields  now  ripe  for  the  sickle,  he  has 
yielded  to  the  desire  of  his  daughter  Mary  and 
myself  to  accompany  him;  for  he  does  not  con- 
ceal from  us  that  he  shall  make  it  a  point  to  visit 
and  hear  the  prophet,  as  it  will  be  but  two  hours 
travel  from  Gilgal  to  the  place  where  he 
preaches.  You  will,  I  fear  me,  object  to  this 
journey.  But  if  the  worship  of  our  fathers  has 
nothing  to  fear  from  falsehood,  it  surely  has 
nought  to  fear  from  truth;  and  in  either  case  I, 
as  a  true  daughter  of  Israel,  have  nothing  to 
fear.  If  the  prophet  teach  what  is  false,  I  shall 
remain  true ;  and  if  he  teach  what  is  true,  shall  I 
not  be  the  gainer?  I  hear  you  say  this  is  but 
feeble  and  womanly  argumentation.  But  as  you 
have  given  me  the  credit  of,  more  than  once, 
declaring  it  to  be  your  belief,  that  I  am  old  and 
wise  enough  to  judge  for  myself  in  most  matters, 
I  beg  you  will  suffer  me  to  hear  the  prophet  with 
my  own  ears,  in  order  that  I  may  decide  whether 
I  ought  to  give  heed  to  his  predictions,  or  reject 
them  as  the  visions  of  a  dreamer.  One  thing  is 
clear — if  the  Christ  that  John  prophesies  be  the 
true  Son  of  the  Highest,  and  is,  in  reality,  to 


88     THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

make  his  appearance  ere  long,  in  humiliation  and 
poverty,  his  rejection  by  the  High  Priests,  and 
by  the  rich  and  powerful  of  Judah,  is  certain. 
May  God,  then,  remove  blindness  from  our  eyes, 
that,  if  this  be  the  very  Messias  indeed,  Israel 
may  recognize  their  king,  and  not  do  so  fearful 
a  thing  in  their  pride  as  to  reject  him  openly! 
In  this  case,  who  will  stand  between  God  and  our 
ill-fated  race?  Therefore,  my  dear  father,  it 
behooves  every  man  in  Israel  to  examine  this 
matter  with  a  sober  and  humble  mind,  and  move 
with  caution  in  opposition  to  what  may  prove  the 
dearest  hopes  of  ouv  people.  When  I  shall  have 
returned  from  the  desert,  whither  we  are  to 
travel  on  litters  and  inu.os,  I  will  write  you  all 
that  I  have  heard. 

You  will  remember  the  young  Roman  Cen- 
turion, to  whose  courtesy  I  was  indebted  in 
rescuing  me  from  the  rudeness  of  the  two  Gen- 
tile soldiers.  He  has  preserved,  since  then, 
acquaintance  with  Rabbi  Amos,  who  speaks  of 
him  with  respect;  and  as  he  has  of  late  expressed 
some  interest  in  knowing,  what  the  studies  are 
which  occupy  the  Rabbi  so  constantly  when 
he  calls  to  see  him,  which  he  has  done  frequently, 
a  copy  of  the  Prophets  was  placed  in  his  hands ; 
but  as  he  professed  he  was  not  learned  enough 
to  read  Hebrew,  the  good  Rabbi,  who  believed 
he  saw  in  him  a  hopeful  convert  to  the  faith  of 
Judah,  called  in  Mary  to  read  and  interpret  to 
him.  But  her  knowledge  of  the  Roman  tongue 
did  not  prove  sufficient,  and  at  her  request,  the 
Rabbi  sent  for  me,  to  come  into  the  marble  hall 


THE    PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  89 

of  the  corridor,  where  they  sat  by  the  fountain, 
under  the  shade  of  the  acacia,  which  Amos  says 
you  took,  with  your  own  hands,  from  Isaiah's 
grave,  and  planted  here,  many  years  ago,  and 
which  I  therefore  call  "my  father's  tree." 

"Come  hither,  Adina,"  said  my  uncle,  in  his 
benevolent  tones:  "here  you  behold  a  noble 
Roman  youth  whom  you  must  be  too  generous 
to  have  forgotten."  I  bowed,  and  scarcely  lifted 
my  eyelids  from  the  tesselated  floor;  for  there 
was  a  fire  in  the  glance  of  the  handsome  youth 
that  they  could  not  encounter.  He  said  some 
words  of  salutation,  but  I  only  heard  the  voice, 
which  fell  upon  my  heart  with  a  strange  vibra- 
tion like  the  effects  of  music.  Surely,  these 
barbarians  of  Italia  have  the  richest  language  of 
all  men ;  compared  with  it,  our  Hebrew  is  harsh, 
and  strangely  gutteral.  "The  Roman  Centu- 
rion," continued  Amos,  "hath  desired  to  know 
something  of  the  sacred  books  of  our  nation,  of 
which  he  saith  he  hath  heard  much;  and  of  the 
prophecies,  from  which  he  believes  the  famed 
Sibylline  books  were  composed." 

"I  have  studied  the  sacred  books  of  Etruria, 
of  Gaul,  and  those  of  the  Goths  and  the  Druids, 
of  Egypt,  and  of  Persia,  as  well  as  of  my  own 
people,"  said  the  Centurion,  modestly,  "  but  in 
all  these  I  find  rites  and  ceremonies,  doctrines 
and  laws,  that  are  unworthy  to  emanate  from  the 
supreme  Jove  of  so  vast  a  universe.  We, 
Romans,  in  the  multiplicity  of  our  Gods,  in  deify- 
ing everything,  in  reality  deify  nothing!  Every 
thing  we  call  God,  but  -we  realize  God  nowhere." 


90  THE  PRINCE   OP  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

"Then  thou  hast  well  directed  thy  inquiries 
touching  this  book,"  answered  Amos,  with 
warmth,  and  loking  on  the  Roman  with  respect- 
ful compassion.  "Here  is  to  be  found  the  true 
and  only  revelation  of  Jehovah  to  men.  Here  is 
developed  a  divine  character,  worthy  of  the 
Creator  of  the  universe.  Here  are  laid  down 
laws  and  ceremonies,  rites  and  doctrines,  com- 
mands and  precepts,  that  are  worthy  to  emanate 
from  the  Father  and  God  of  all  men.  Thou 
shalt  hear  and  judge  for  thyself.  I  am  but  im- 
perfectly skilled  in  the  Roman  tongue,  save  for 
daily  intercourse,  but  here  is  an  Egyptian 
maiden  who  can  interpret  for  thee  in  the  idiom 
of  Grecia,  or  of  Italia,  and  I  will  place  the  sacred 
scroll  in  her  hands,  while  I  listen.  Come,  Adina, 
open  and  read  the  beginning  of  the  Book  ot 
Moses." 

I  obeyed,  as  I  would  have  obeyed  you,  dear 
father,  and,  seated  at  the  feet  of  Amos,  I  read 
and  translated  aloud  into  Greek,  which  the 
Roman  youth  had  said  was  even  more  familiar 
to  him  than  his  native  tongue  (as  it  is  to  all 
educated  persons  in  the  world),  the  first  five 
hundred  lines.  These,  as  you  know,  give  an 
account  of  the  creation  of  the  world,  and  of  man, 
of  his  defection,  and  his  expulsion  from  Para- 
dise; of  the  promise  of  Messias  to  restore  what 
he  had  lost;  of  the  curse  denounced  upon  the. 
creation,  and  the  slaying  of  the  Patriarch  Abel, 
with  the  population  of  the  earth,  its  wickedness, 
and  destruction  by  the  flood. 


THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.     91 

To  this  the  youthful  warrior  listened  with  the 
profoundest  respect  and  attention;  and  when  he 
had  thanked  me,  and  asked  permission  to  come 
and  be  further  taught  from  pages  which  he  said 
seemed,  indeed,  to  be  written  with  the  finger  of 
the  Supreme  Lord  of  the  universe,  he  asked  if 
the  Messias  had  yet  come  who  was  to  restore  all 
things?  and  if  not,  when  was  he  to  be  looked  for? 
This  inquiry  led  to  a  conversation  upon  the 
preaching  of  John  in  the  wi-lderness,  and  his  pre- 
dictions of  the  near  advent  of  Shiloh.  Rabbi 
Amos,  seeing  that  he  became  deeply  interested  in 
the  subject,  made  me  turn  to  the  particular 
prophecies  of  Daniel,  Esaias,  David,  and  others,. 
and  read  them  to  him:  both  those  which 
described,  in  goxlen  \vords,  the  glory  and  domin- 
ion of  his  powe.-,  and  those  which  represented 
him  as  despised  and  rejected.  After  I  had  read 
all  which  the  Rabbi  directed  me  to  read,  the 
young  man  remained  some  time  very  thoughtful. 
At  length  he  said,  with  animation :  "I  can  now 
comprehend  why  men  run  into  the  wilderness. 
I  should  like  to  hear  this  prophet." 

When  Amos  told  him  that  he  contemplated 
journeying  to  Gilgal  the  next  week,  and  intended 
to  visit  the  desert  to  hear  him,  he  at  once  asked 
permission  to  be  of  his  company;  but  when  I 
remarked  that  Mary  and  I  were  also  to  go,  his 
dark  eyes  beamed  with  pleasure,  and  he  imme- 
diately said : 

"I  wifl  accompany  you  with  a  squadron  of 
horse,  as  the  roads  are  not  safe,  for  no  longer 


92  THE  PRINCE   OF   THE  HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

than  yesterday  we  received  a  rumor  that  the  cele- 
brated robber  chief,  Barabbas,  at  the  head  of  a 
large  band,  has  made  his  appearance  again  on 
the  hills,  between  Ephraim  and  Jericho,  and  had 
robbed  not  only  two  caravans,  but  many  of  those 
who  were  travelling  to  hear  this  prophet.  I  will 
make  an  expedition  against  him,  after  seeing  you 
safely  in  Jericho." 

When  we  heard  of  this  robber,  we  were  not  a 
little  disposed  to  decline  our  journey;  but  Rabbi 
Amos  thanked  him,  and  said  he  would  gladly 
accept  his  escort,  "inasmuch,"  he  added,  smiling, 
"as  I  know  you  Roman  knights  here  in  garrison 
have  but  little  to  employ  your  time,  and  would 
esteem  it  a  privilege  to  have  an  excursion  of  this 
kind.  Moreover,  you  say  you  must  go  against 
this  bandit;  so  we  do  not  so  much  draw  on  your 
courtesy  as  take  shelter  under  your  duty." 

It  is,  therefore,  decided,  dear  father,  that  we 
leave  early  next  week  for  Jericho  and  Gilgal,  and 
go  also  into  the  wilderness,  to  see  and  hear  the 
prophet.  On  my  return,  I  shall  not  fail  to  write 
you  without  delay.  Till  then,  withhold  your 
judgment,  and  have  confidence  in  mine.  With 
holy  aspirations  for  the  coming  of  the  kingdom 
of  David,  and  the  restoration  of  his  throne  in 
Zion,  I  remain,  with  filial  love,  your  daughter, 

ADINA. 

[John,  cousin  to  Mary,  who  I  erroneously  told 
you  in  my  second  letter  was  the  son  of  the  rich 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  95 

matron  whose  husband  was  slain  by  the  Romans, 
and  is  only  her  nephew,  as,  doubtless,  you  are 
aware,  has  gone  to  the  Lake  of  Galilee,  where 
his  father  and  brother  have  ships,  and  many  ser- 
vants, engaged  in  fishing,  in  order  to  look  after 
their  welfare.  He  may  meet  us  at  Gilgal.] 


LETTER  VTL 

My  Dear  Father: — My  trembling  fingers 
-scarcely  hold  the  light  read  with  which  I  am 
about  to  write  you  concerning  the  extraordinary 
things  I  have  seen  and  heard;  but  they  tremble 
only  with  joy.  Oh,  my  father,  my  dear,  dear 
father,  Messias  has  come!  I  have  seen  him!  I 
have  heard  his  voice!  He  has  truly  come!  Oh, 
joy,  joy!  My  eyes  have  beheld  him  of  whom 
Moses  and  the  Prophets  did  write!  But  let  me 
not  anticipate.  la  order  that  you  may  believe 
as  I  believe,  though  you  have  seen  Him  not,  I 
will  give  to  you  an  account  of  those  events  which 
have  happened  since  my  last  letter  was  sent  to 
you.  I  will  try  to  write  free  from  emotion,  and 
keep  my  bounding  heart  still,  and  my  hand  calm, 
while  I  set  in  order  all  that  has  taken  place,  that 
your  understanding  may  judge  of  them  with  that 
candor  and  wisdom  which  makes  men  see  in  you 
the  wisest  Israelite  in  the  land  of  Egypt. 

You  will  recollect  that  in  my  last  epistle,  which 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  »fr 

werft  by  the  Cairo  caravan,  I  mentioned  that 
Rabbi  Amos,  taking  advantage  of  the  recess  in 
his  duties  at  the  Temple,  the  course  of  the  ven- 
erable Elihud  being  now  waiting  upon  the  altar, 
made  up  his  mind  to  pay  his  annual  visit  to  the 
wheat  fields  which  he  has  in  charge,  near 
Jericho,  and  which,  as  you  know,  are  not  his  own 
lands,  but  are  in  trust  to  him  for  the  heirs  of 
Manasseh,  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  who  was 
slain  in  trying  to  rescue  Jericho  from  the 
Romans.  Rabbi  Amos  also  felt  no  little  curi- 
osity to  hear  John  of  Jordan,  as  he  is  called, 
whose  fame  has  spread  far  and  wide.  At  the 
request  of  Mary  and  myself,  he  consented  that 
we  should  accompany  him.  John,  the  young 
man  who  is  betrothed  to  my  cousin,  having  gone 
to  the  sea  of  Galilee  to  see  about  certain  ships 
tvhich  were  there  in  charge  of  his  brother  James 
and  his  father,  was  to  meet  us  at  Gilgal,  and 
accompany  us  to  Jordan;  for  he  thinks  and 
speaks  of  nothing  now  but  the  prophet  of  the 
•wilderness,  from  whom  he  feels  that  he  suffers 
great  loss  to  be  absent,  even  for  a  day. 

The  road  from  Jerusalem  to  Jericho  had 
become  recently  unsafe,  on  account  of  the  bold- 
ness of  an  insurrectionary  chief  called  Barabbas, 
who  a  year  ago  made  insurrection  against  the 
Romans,  but  was  defeated,  and  his  band  dis- 
persed into  the  mountains  south  o-f  the  sea  of 
Sodom;  but,  at  last,  driven  to  famine,  he  has 
taken  to  robbing  caravans;  and  since  the  number 
of  travellers  has  increased  so  much  between  Jer- 
usalem and  Jordan,  to  hear  John,  and  be  bap- 


*>0  THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

tized  of  him,  he  has  fallen  upon  large  parties  of 
them,  and  taken  from  them  all  their  goods  and 
money.  On  this  account  Rabbi  Amos  accepted 
the  courteous  offer  of  the  escort  of  the  young 
Centurion,  who  had  been  ordered  by  the  Pro- 
curator, Pontius  Pilate,  to  keep  the  road  open 
between  Jerusalem  and  Jericho;  for  even  the 
Roman  couriers  were  stopped  by  this  fearless 
robber  and  slain  by  him.  The  pride  of  Rabbi 
Amos  shrunk  from  this  dependence  upon  a 
Roman  arm,  in  making  a  peaceful  journey 
through  his  own  land;  but  there  is,  alas!  dear 
father,  no  one  now  among  the  seed  of  Abraham 
to  assert  their  rights.  '  We  can  only  bow  our 
heads  to  the  yoke  the  Lord  God  has  placed  upon 
our  necks. 

It  was  faint  dawn  when  we  rose  from  our 
couches  to  prepare  for  the  journey.  The  mules 
upon  which  we  were  to  ride  were  brought  into 
the  court  by  the  two  swarthy  Gibeonite  serfs, 
whom  Rabbi  Amos  holds  in  his  service,  and 
comparisoned  with  rich  saddles  covered  with 
Persian  saddle-cloths,  embroidered  with  gold. 
The  two  pack  mules  were  also  made  ready,  on 
one  of  which  was  the  travelling  equipage  of  my 
cousin  Mary  and  myself,  which  Rabbi  Amos 
smilingly  said,  took  up  more  space  than  the 
goods  and  travelling  wares  of  a  Damascus  mer- 
chant. At  sunrise,  after  we  had  kneeled  upon 
the  house-top,  in  view  of  the  Temple,  and  sent 
up  our  prayers  with  its  sacrifices  and  clouds  of 
ascending  incense,  we  descended  to  the  court- 
yard to  mount  for  the  road.  There  was  a  stout 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE    HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  97 

mule  for  good  Rabbi  Amos,  though  the  Centu- 
rion sent  him  a  handsome  Persian  horse  to  ride; 
but  my  uncle  said  that  he  had  never  trusted  him- 
self on  so  uncertain  an  animal  as  a  horse  in  his 
youth,  and  he  thought  he  should  scarcely  adven- 
ture such  a  feat  in  his  old  age ;  so  he  preferred  his 
mule. 

Having  got  ourselves  seated  upon  our  cush- 
ioned saddles,  and  our  veils  ready  to  draw  over 
our  faces,  we  expected  each  moment  the  arrival 
of  the  Centurion  and  his  cohort  of  horse;  but  a 
Numidian  slave  came  running,  and,  bowing  to 
the  ground  before  Rabbi  Amos,  said  that  the 
Centurion  would  meet  us  at  the  corner  of  the 
two  ways,  beyond  the  walls,  at  Absalom's  Pillar. 
Whereupon  we  all  mounted,  and  took  our  way 
towards  the  East  Gate.  We  were  five  persons 
in  all,  Rabbi  Amos,  my  cousin  Mary  and  myself, 
and  the  two  Gibeonites,  both  of  whom  were 
young  men,  whose  fathers  for  many  centuries 
had  been  servants  in  the  family  of  Amos,  even 
from  the  time  of  Joshua,  when  this  people 
deceived  him  by  their  craftiness,  and  were 
doomed  to  perpetual  servitude.  I  am  much 
struck  with  the  appearance  of  this  singular  race 
of  men.  They  have  very  dark  faces,  eagle- 
beaked  noses,  flashing  black  eyes,  and  slender, 
lithe  forms.  They  look  cunning  and  treacher- 
ous, but  seem  to  be  cowardly,  and  easily  con- 
trolled by  firmness.  They  are  incapable  of  any 
attachments,  and  gratitude  seems  to  be  thrown 
away  upon  them.  I  heard  a  singular  tradition 
about  them  from  one  of  the  Levites,  who  often 


$8  THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

visits  Rabbi  Amos;  which  is,  that  they  are  de- 
scended from  the  servants  of  Noah,  which  were 
saved  with  him  in  the  ark,  but  who,  as  being  of 
an  inferior  rank,  were  not  included  in  the  record 
of  Noah's  family.  But,  doubtless,  you  have 
"heard  the  same  tradition. 

The  morning  was  bright  and  cheerful,  with  the 
golden  sun  pouring  its  light  over  temple  and 
tower,  castle  and  roof,  wall  and  rampart,  hill  and 
grove,  valley  and  brook,  one  and  all  of  which 
were  lighted  up  with  the  glory  of  his  morning 
Learns.  As  we  turned  the  street  leading  to  the 
Sheep  Gate,  we  passed  the  house  of  Caiaphas, 
the  High  Priest,  whom  I  saw  standing  upon  the 
marble  porch  of  his  superb  palace.  He  was  not 
arrayed  in  his  sumptuous  robes,  with  the  breast- 
plate of  dazzling  stones,  and  kingly  cap,  as  I  had 
seen  him  in  the  Temple;  but  was  dressed  in  a 
flowing  black  robe,  over  which  was  thrown  a 
scarf  of  white  linen;  and  upon  his  snow-white 
locks  he  wore  a  scarlet  hood,  a  dress  common  to 
all  the  priests,  so  that  if  I  had  not  recognized 
him  by  his  tall  and  commanding  form,  and  flow- 
ing white  hair,  and  piercing  eye,  as  he  surveyed 
us,  I  should  not  have  known  that  it  was  the  High 
Priest.  He  spoke  to  Rabbi  Amos,  who  did  him 
reverence,  and  lowly  did  I  bend  my  own  head 
before  the  majesty  of  the  representative  of  God 
on  earth. 

A  little  further  on,  we  met  a  party  coming  from 
the  country  beyond  Kedron,  with  large  cages 
upon  their  mules,  laden  with  turtle-doves  and 
young  pigeons,  which  they  were  carrying  to  the 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  99 

Temple,  to  be  sold  there  for  sacrifices.  My 
heart  pitied  the  innocent  things,  whose  blue, 
pretty  heads  were  thrust  by  the  dozen  through 
the  rough  bars  of  their  prison  houses,  as  they 
cast  their  soft  eyes  up  at  me,  as  if  asking  me  to 
deliver  them  from  their  bondage.  And  when  I 
reflected  that  they  were  to  offer  up  their  innocent 
lives  for  the  sins  of  the  men  and  women  of 
Israel,  my  cheek  burned  with  the  blush  of  shame, 
that  we  were  so  guilty  before  the  Lord  God,  that 
the  innocent  must  die  for  us.  As  Mary  was  rid- 
ing behind  me,  in  order  to  let  the  laden  mules 
pass  with  their  immense  cages,  one  of  the  turtle- 
doves, affrighted  by  the  noise  of  the  streets, 
extricated  itself  from  between  the  bars,  and, 
spreading  its  wings,  flew  into  the  air,  and  then 
taking  its  flight  for  the  country,  soared  far  above 
the  city  walls,  and  disappeared  in  the  distance. 
I  felt  rejoiced  at  the  innocent  bird's  escape,  and 
sent  my  good  wishes  for  its  safe  return  to  its 
lodge  in  the  wilderness.  Just  before  we  reached 
the  Sheep  Gate,  by  which  we  were  to  gain  the 
Jericho  road,  we  met  a  poor  blind  man  leading  a 
a  lamb,  or  rather,  being  led  by  a  tame  lamb.  He 
also  had  two  pigeons  in  his  bosom.  He  was 
asked  by  Rabbi  Amos,  who  knew  him,  whither 
he  was  going.  He  answered  that  he  was  going 
to  the  Temple  to  sacrifice  them.  "Nay,"  said 
Amos,  with  surprise,  "thou  wilt  not  sacrifice  thy 
lamb,  Bartimeus!" 

"I  have  promised  them  to  God,  Rabbi  Amos, 
and  I  may  not  break  my  promise  without  sin." 


100  THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OP   DAVID.  ' 

A 

"But  thy  lamb  leadeth  thee  everywhere.  It  is 
eyes  to  thee.  Thou  canst  not  do  without  it." 

"God  will  provide  me  another  lamb,"  he 
answered,  his  face  beaming  with  hope. 

"But  thy  doves?  Thou  earnest  by  them  many 
a  mite  in  a  day,  they  are  so  well  taught  in  cun- 
ning and  pleasant  tricks  to  please  children.  If 
thou  must  sacrifice  according  to  thy  vow,  spare 
these  so  needful  to  thee,  and  here  is  money  to 
buy  doves  and  another  lamb,"  answered  my 
benevolent  uncle. 

"Hear  what  I  have  to  say,"  answered  Barti- 
meus.  "My  father  became  sick,  and  was  likely 
to  die,  and  I  vowed  a  vow  to  God  that  if  he 
would  heal  the  old  man,  my  father,  I  would  sac- 
rifice unto  him  one  of  my  doves.  The  next  day 
my  mother,  who  has  nourished  my  childhood, 
and  loved  me,  though  I  was  born  blind,  with  all 
her  heart  was  also  taken  sick.  I  then  vowed  my 
other  pigeon.  The  same  night  my  little 
daughter,  my  little  blind  daughter,  whose  face  I 
never  saw,  and  who  never  saw  her  father's  face, 
was  sick  nigh  unto  death.  Then  it  was  that  I 
vowed  all  that  remained  to  me,  even  the  lamb  of 
my  bosom,  whom  I  love  next  to  my  child!  My 
father,  my  mother,  my  child,  are  restored,  and  in 
my  joy  I  am  on  my  way  to  the  Temple  to  offer 
these  gifts  of  God  to  him.  It  will  be  hard,  sir, 
to  part  with  them,  I  shall  miss  them  so  much; 
but  shall  I  not  perform  my  vow?  It  will  be  hard 
but  God  will  not  let  blind  Bartimeus  suffer,  since 
He  will  see  that  he  offereth,  in  offering  his  two 
little  doves  and  his  lamb,  all  that  he  hath." 


THE   PRINCE   Of  THE   HOUSE    OP   DAVID.  101 

With  these  words  he  moved  on,  the  lamb, 
obeying  the  string  which  he  held,  softly  moving 
on  before ;  while  I  could  see  the  sightless  eyes  of 
the  righteous  son  and  father  trickle  tears,  as  he 
kissed,  and  kissed  again,  the  doves  that  lay  in  his 
bosom.  This  little  occurrence  made  me  sad; 
yet  I  honored  the  resolute  piety  of  this  poor 
man,  whose  eyes,  though  they  saw  not  men, 
seemed  to  see  God  and  feel  his  presence.  There 
is  still  humble  piety  in  the  land,  my  dear  father, 
and  finding  it  not  among  the  proud  and  splendid 
priests,  we  must  look  for  it  in  the  hearts  of  the 
poor  and  humble,  like  Bartimeus. 

Upon  reaching  the  Sheep  Gate,  we  were  not 
detained  by  the  Roman  captain,  who  kept  others, 
examing  their  passports,  and  taking  gate-money 
from  those  who  were  without  them;  for  though 
foot  passengers  may  pass  in  and  out  free,  yet 
from  those  who  ride  horses  or  mules  is  exacted 
money,  unless  they  have  passes  signed  by  the 
Procurator.  But  the  captain  of  the  gate  no 
sooner  saw  us,  than  he,  with  great  civility,  made 
us  pass  through  the  gate  in  advance  of  others 
who  were  ready  to  go  through,  saying  that  the 
young  Centurion,  whose  name,  I  think,  I  have 
not  told  you,  is  ^milius,  had  given  him  orders 
not  to  detain  us.  The  stern,  iron-cased  Roman 
soldiers  that  stood  about  the  gate,  struck  me  as 
having  just  the  aspect  and  forms  of  men  who 
would  conquer  the  world.  When  I  reflected 
that  there  was  not  a  city  on  the  earth,  at  whose 
gates  did  not  stand  just  such  men  as  these, 
armed,  and  clad,  and  bearded  like  them,  I  could 


102          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

not   but   respect   the   universal    power   of   the 
Roman  empire,  while  I  feared  it. 

Once  outside  of  the  gates,  the  air  blew  fresh 
from  the  hills  of  olives,  laden  with  fragrance. 
After  being  so  long  confined  within  the  walls  and 
narrow  streets,  it  seemed  to  me  that  I  had  just 
broken  out  of  my  cage,  like  the  pretty,  blue- 
headed  turtle-dove,  and  I  felt  like  winging  my 
way,  too,  to  the  free  deserts,  if  wings  of  a  dove, 
so  ardently  longed  for  by  King  David,  could 
only  have  been  given  me.  On  our  right,  not  far 
from  the  gate,  Rabbi  Amos  pointed  out  to  me 
the  pool  of  Bethesda,  and  turning  my  eyes 
towards  it,  I  beheld  a  most  touching  spectacle. 
All  the  five  porches  were  filled  with  sick  and 
impotent  folk,  the  lame,  halt,  blind,  and  withered, 
waiting,  as  my  uncle  told  us,  for  the  moving  of 
the  waters;  for,  at  certain  seasons,  he  said  that 
God  sends  an  angel  down  into  the  pool  to  trouble 
the  water,  when,  whosoever  steps  in  first,  is  made 
whole  of  whatever  disease  he  may  have.  I  could 
not  but  stop  my  mule  to  regard  so  remarkable  a 
sight  as  this  congregation  of  miserable  people, 
of  whom  there  must  have  been  no  less  than  four 
hundred;  some  leaning,  pale  and  haggard, 
against  the  columns,  some  creeping  about  in 
helplessness,  like  brutes  trying  to  get  nigher  the 
pool,  from  which  the  stronger  thrust  them  back ; 
some  reclining  patiently  upon  their  beds,  in 
humble  waiting  for  God's  time;  and  others  being 
borne  hither  on  the  shoulders  of  men.  Sud- 
denly, as  I  was  about  to  ride  on,  and  shut  out 
this  painful  sight,  one  of  the  most  extraordinary 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  103 

scenes  that  human  eyes  could  witness  took  place. 
The  surface  of  the  pool,  which  was  hitherto  per- 
fectly placid,  all  at  once  became  agitated,  as  if  it 
were  boiling,  and  began  to  swell,  rush,  or  rather 
swing  from  side  to  side,  in  a  remarkable  manner. 
No  sooner  \vas  this  seen,  then  there  arose  from 
the  throng  of  wretched  invalids  who  crowded  iti\ 
steps,  a  cry  of  four  hundred  voices  all  at  once, 
shrieks  of  joy,  shouts  of  wonder,  words  of 
amazed  exclamation,  while  a  simultaneous  move- 
ment took  place  of  the  whole  mass  of  human 
bodies,  which  became  as  wildly  tossed  to  and  fro 
as  were  the  waters.  Those  nearest  plunged 
madly  in,  while  those  behind  rushed  down,  some 
wildly  shrieking  in  their  agonizing  haste,  and 
some  uttering  the  most  fearful  curses,  as  they 
found  their  way  obstructed  by  the  impenetrable 
masses  before  them.  The  most  weak  and  impo- 
tent being  most  eager,  and  being  farthest  off, 
made  superhuman  exertions  to  gain  the  pool, 
howling,  and  climbing  with  hands  and  feet,  over 
the  backs  of  others,  to  be  hurled  to  the  ground 
and  trampled  upon  by  others  who  were  behind 
them.  Some  strong  men  who  tried  to  open  the 
way  for  one  they  were  carrying,  drew  their 
knives,  and  proceeded  to  cut  their  way  throuerh 
the  haggard  and  mouthing  wretches  who 
crowded  the  way,  which  violence  being  seen  by 
the  Romans  from  the  gate,  they  went  down, 
some  score  of  them,  with  drawn  swords,  to  quell 
the  tumult;  for  the  whole  pool  was  in  an  uproar. 
Unable  to  endure  the  dreadful  scene,  we  rode 
rapidly  on,  but  I  afterwards  heard  that  before 


104  THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE    OF   DAVID. 

quiet  was  restored,  several  men  were  slain,  and 
that  five  of  those  who  had  got  into  the  pool  were 
drowned  beneath  the  feet  of  those  who  recklessly 
leaped  in,  over  the  heads  of  others,  upon  them. 

"Is  it  possible,"  I  asked  Rabbi  Amos,  after  we 
had  reached  the  borders  of  Kedron,  "that  it  is 
the  act  of  an  angel  that  can  produce  all  this 
confusion  and  outbreak  of  the  worst  of  human 
passions?" 

"There  is  no  doubt  that  the  troubling  of  the 
waters  is  a  miracle,"  he  answered.  "The  act  of 
the  angel  is  good.  His  touch  gives  a  healing 
power  that  cures  diseases;  and  shall  his  benevo- 
lence be  answerable  for  these  dreadful  and  dis- 
gusting consequences  which  we  have  just 
witnessed?" 

I  was  silent;  but  I  sighed  for  the  wickedness 
of  man,  that  can  make  even  God's  gifts  curses  in 
the  reception  of  them. 

We  now  turned  a  little  to  the  right,  for  as  the 
bridge  by  which  the  road  of  Jericho  is  usually 
gained  was  being  solidly  rebuilt  by  the  Romans, 
we  had  to  follow  the  brookside  till  we  came  near 
Absalom's  Pillar,  at  the  sight  of  which,  the  whole 
history  of  that  misguided  young  prince  came 
before  me.  How  wonderful,  that  the  glorious 
head  of  golden  hair,  of  which  he  was  vain,  and 
of  which  the  poets  of  that  day  speak  more  than 
once,  should  have  been  the  instrument  of  his 
death!  There  were  ancient  oak  trees  in  sight, 
which  the  Rabbi  said  were  old  enough  to  be  part 
of  the  forest  through  which  he  rode  so  fatally, 
and,  doubtless,  were.  He  showed  me  the  pit 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  105 

into  which  the  ten  young  men  who  slew  Absa- 
lom cast  him,  heaping  great  stones  upon  him. 
It  is  close  beside  the  pillar.  This  prince  must 
have  been  as  brave  as  he  was  beautiful  and  diso- 
bedient, that  when  hanging  by  his  hair  in  the 
oak,  and  incapable  of  doing  them  harm,  it  should 
require  "ten  young  men  to  compass  him  and 
smite  him."  How  interesting  to  me  is  every 
spot  about  Jerusalem!  I  seem  to  live  in  the 
ancient  days,  when  I  see  the  scenes  where  have 
been  enacted  the  great  events  which  constitute 
the  history  and  glory  of  our  nation. 

We  had  hardly  reached  the  place  where  the 
two  roads  meet,  when  we  heard  to  the  west  the 
sound  of  the  galloping  of  a  large  body  of  horse, 
and  the  next  moment  the  young  Roman  Centu- 
rion came  in  sight,  by  the  road  from  the  Horse 
Gate,  riding  at  the  head  of  a  troop  of  horse, 
whose  martial  appearance,  with  the  ringing  of 
their  armor,  and  the  melody  of  their  bugles, 
made  my  blood  ler.p;  and  I  am  sure,  if  I  could 
have  seen  my  eyes,  I  should  have  discovered  in 
them  a  martial  fire,  ^milius  looked  like  a 
Prince,  and  his  burnished  armor  shone  in  the 
sun  like  armor  of  fire.  At  his  side  rode  a  youth, 
who  bore  the  eagle  of  his  band;  but  the  Centu- 
rion himself  carried  in  his  hand  only  the  badge 
of  his  rank,  which  was  a  vine-rod  bouird  with 
rings  of  gold.  He  saluted  us  with  that  courtesy 
which  distinguishes  his  every  motion,  and  then 
dividing  his  troop  into  two  bodies,  half  of  whom 
trotting  on  ahead,  led  the  van,  and  the  other 
half,  falling  behind,  served  as  a  rear-guard.  He 


J06          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OP  DAVID. 

then  gave  the  word  to  move  forward.  The  Cen- 
turion himself  rode  either  by  the  side  of  Rabbi 
Amos,  or  near  our  bridles,  but  he  did  not  so  far 
occupy  himself  with  us  as  to  forget  his  duty  as 
captain,  which  he  fulfilled  with  the  utmost  vigi- 
lance, especially  after  we  passed  the  village,  and 
entered  upon  the  desert  space  that  lies  beyond 
Bethany. 

Farewell,  dear  father,  till  my  next,  when  I  will 
resume  my  narrative  of  the  events  which  have 
taken  place  since  I  left  Jerusalem.  The  God  of 
our  father  Abraham  be  your  defence  and  shield. 
.Your  affectionate  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER  VIII. 

My  Dear  Father: — The  very  kind  manner  in 
which  you  have  received  my  communications 
respecting  the  extraordinary  prophet  now  draw- 
ing all  Judea  a>fter  him  into  the  wilderness,  and 
the  assurance  that  I  can  obtain  from  your  wis- 
dom, learning  and  piety,  a  solution  of  all  diffi- 
culties, and  a  true  guide  to  the  truth,  prompt  me 
to  continue  freely,  and  in  detail,  the  relation  of 
events  that  have  passed  under  my  experience.  I 
shall,  in  my  accounts  of  the  marvellous  occur- 
rences that  I  have  witnessed,  and  may  yet  wit- 
ness, not  only  convey  to  you  the  impressions 
made  upon  my  own  mind,  but  upon  the  minds 
of  many  others,  of  the  wise,  and  learned,  and 
great,  who  also  have  heard  and  seen  these  things. 
Thus  you  will  have  the  weight  of  many  testi- 
monies, which  you  will  doubtless  hold  in  respect 
In  proportion  to  the  dignity,  and  wisdom,  and 
rank  of  the  persons. 

My  last  letter  ended  with  an  account  of  the 


108          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

Roman  escort,  under  the  authority  of  the  young 
Roman  Centurion,  who,  as  I  have  before  written 
to  you,  with  so  much  courtesy  proffered  its  pro- 
tection to  our  little  party.  The  day  was  yet 
early,  the  sun  not  having  got  more  than  an  hour 
and  a  half  high  above  the  Arabian  hills,  and  the 
air  was  of  that  buoyant  elasticity  so  agreeable 
to  breathe,  and  which  strikes  me  as  one  of  the 
peculiar  blessings  of  this  holy  land  of  our  fathers. 
In  Egypt  there  is  a  want  of  life  in  the  torrid  air 
at  this  season,  that  we  do  not  here  experience,' 
and  as  I  rode  along,  I  felt  as  if  I  would  gladly 
mount  the  Arabian  of  the  desert,  and  fly  across 
the  sandy  seas  of  Edom,  with  the  fleetness  which 
amazes  me  whenever  I  see  the  children  of  the 
desert  ride;  for  a  band  of  thirty  came  near  us 
from  a  gorge  as  we  approached  Bethany,  and, 
after  watching  us  a  few  moments,  scoured  away 
into  the  recesses  of  the  hills,  like  the  wind,  as  a 
detachment  of  a  score  of  our  Roman  escort  was 
ordered  to  gallop  towards  them.  Upon  this, 
Rabbi  Amos  said  that  we  were  fortunate  in  hav- 
ing such  strong  protection,  for  this  party  of  the 
children  of  Esau  would  otherwise  have  attacked 
and  plundered  us,  as  they  are  wont  to  do  every 
party  of  Israelites  they  fall  in  with;  and  the 
recent  concourse  of  so  many  people  to  Jordan, 
has  drawn  them  boldly  near  Jerusalem,  says  the 
Roman  Centurion,  in  great  numbers,  to  lay  in 
wait  for,  and  rob  them.  Thus,  the  hostility 
which  began  between  the  patriarch  Jacob  and 
the  patriarch  Esau,  has  never  yet  been  healed, 
but  rankles  in  the  bosoms  of  their  descendants 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  10£ 

ev*n  to  this  day;  and  still,  "Esau  hateth  Jacob, 
because  of  the  blessing  wherewith  his  father 
blessed  htm."  The  Romans  greatly  admired 
the  horsemanship  of  these  children  of  Esau,  and, 
upon  their  heavy  horses,  armed  with  their  iron 
armor,  it  would  have  been  vain  to  have  followed 
them  to  their  retreats. 

We  soon  afterwards  reached  Bethany,  from 
which  we  had  a  gorgeous  view  of  the  Holy  City 
of  God,  with  its  lofty  Temple  glittering  in  the 
sunbeams,  like  a  mountain  of  architectural  sil- 
ver. The  tower  of  Antonia  darkly  contrasted 
with  its  splendor,  and  the  citadel  of  David 
frowned  over  the  walls  with  a  warlike  majesty 
that  deeply  impressed  me.  Ah,  how  could  I 
gaze  upon  the  scene,  my  dear  father,  without 
emotions  of  awe,  wonder,  adoration,  and  grati- 
tude! I  drew  rein,  and  entreated  Rabbi  Amos 
to  delay  a  few  moments,  while  I  surveyed  Jerusa- 
lem, which,  familiar  as  it  might  be  to  him,  and 
to  all  the  rest  of  our  cavalcade,  was  new  to  me; 
but  he  was  too  far  ahead  to  hear  me,  for  I  had 
already  been  lingering  for  some  seconds ;  and  the 
Centurion,  riding  up  to  my  side,  stopped  respect- 
fully, with  a  portion  of  his  command,  and  said 
he  would  await  my  leisure.  I  could  not  but 
thank  him  for  his  civility,  and  then  turning  to 
the  city,  I  was  soon  lost  to  all  else  but  the  awful 
contemplation  of  it.  Irresistibly,  as  I  gazed,  I 
went  back,  in  memory,  to  the  time  when  our 
father  Abraham  was  met  before  its  gates  by  Mel- 
chisedek,  its  king,  who  received  regal  homage 
from  him.  I  saw  again,  David  coming  forth 


110          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

from  its  lofty  portals,  at  the  head  of  armies,  to 
conquer  the  surrounding  nations.  I  beheld  the 
splendid  trains  of  oriental  monarchs,  of  the  kings 
of  the  South,  and  the  kings  of  the  North,  and  of 
Sheba,  the  queen  of  happy  Arabia,  winding 
through  its  pleasant  valley,  and  entering  in  to 
prostrate  themselves  before  Solomon,  the  prince 
of  wisdom,  glory,  and  power,  the  fame  of  whose 
\visdom  and  greatness  filled  the  whole  earth. 
Alas !  the  whole  earth  is  now  filled  with  the  story 
of  the  shame  and  bondage  of  Israel!  But  the 
(lay  cometh,  dear  father,  when  she  shall  lift  up 
her  face  from  the  dust,  and  put  on  regal  gar- 
ments, and  God  shall  place  a  crown  upon  her 
head,  and  her  glory  and  dominion  shall  be  with- 
out end.  This  certainty  quenched  the  tears  that 
burst  into  my  eyes,  as  I  contrasted  the  present 
with  the  past.  In  memory,  as  I  continued  to 
gaze,  I  saw  the  armies  of  the  Assyrians,  and  the 
armies  of  the  Chaldeans,  the  armies  of  Egypt, 
and  of  Persia,  of  Cyrus,  and  of  Greece,  all,  each 
in  its  turn,  encompassing  the  Holy  City,  and 
conquering  it,  even  though  God  dwelt  therein 
in  the  mysterious  fire  of  the  Shechinah.  But  the 
presence  of  Jehovah,  in  a  city  or  in  a  heart,  will 
not  save  it  from  its  foes,  if  the  city  or  the  heart 
be  not  with  God ;  and  we  know  from  the  Proph- 
ets that  the  hearts  of  our  fathers  were  far  from 
God;  and,  therefore,  were  they  delivered  up  to 
their  enemies  to  be  scourged.  Oh,  my  dear 
father,  that  our  people  of  to-day  would  learn  the 
fearful  lesson  that  the  past  teacheth  them! 

"You  should  see  Rome,"  said  the  Centurion, 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  Ill 

who  had  watched  my  emotion  evidently  with 
.surprise.  "It  is  a  city  of  grandeur  unequalled. 
It  covers  six  times  more  space  than  this  city,  and 
it  contains  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  temples, 
while  Jerusalem  contains  but  one!" 

"There  is  no  God  but  one,"  I  answered, 
impressively. 

"We  believe  that  there  is  one  God,  who  is  the 
author  of  a  great  multitude  of  lesser  gods,  and  to 
each  we  erect  a  temple." 

Upon  this,  touched  with  pity  that  one  so  noble 
in  mind  and  person  should  be  so  ignorant  of  the 
truth,  I  began  to  show  him  from  the  Prophets 
that  God  was  one,  and  that  all  things  were  made 
by  Him.  But  he,  plucking  a  blossom  from  a 
tree  which  was  within  reach,  said: 

"It  is  beneath  the  dignity  of  the  Father  of  the 
gods,  the  great  Jove,  to  descend  to  make  a  flower 
like  this;  or  shape  a  crystal;  or  color  the  ruby;  or 
create  that  golden-dyed  humming-bird  which 
nutters  among  those  fragrant  blossoms.  He 
made  the  sun,  and  moon,  and  stars,  and  earth, 
but  left  the  lesser  works  to  inferior  deities.  Talk 
to  me  of  thy  One  God,  and  prove  to  me,  maiden, 
that  He  made  all  things,  and  is  One,  and  thy  God 
shall  be  my  God." 

It  was  then  no  time  for  me  to  endeavor  to 
combat  this  error,  but  I  have  reserved  to  myself 
the  first  convenient  opportunity  to  endeavor  to 
instruct  him  in  the  truth  as  it  is  revealed  from 
Heaven  to  our  favored  people.  He  has  already 
manifested  an  inquiring  spirit  into  our  holy  faith, 
and  Rabbi  Amos  has  taught  him  many  things 


112          THE   PRINCE    OK   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

from  the  books  of  Moses,  but  sufficient  only  t<s 
lead  him  to  desire  to  know  more ;  but  not  to  erad- 
icate from  his  heart  his  pagan  superstitions. 
The  gentleness  of  his  nature,  his  sound  judg- 
ment, the  frankness  of  his  character,  the  ingenu- 
ous temper  of  the  whole  man,  inspire  me  with 
great  confidence  that  he  will  be  ultimately  con- 
vinced of  his  errors,  and  embrace  the  faith  of 
Israel. 

We  now  rode  forward  through  the  principal 
street  of  Bethany,  and  soon  came  to  the  house  of 
your  former  friend,  Rabbi  Abel,  who  died  many 
years  ago  at  Alexandria,  when  he  went  there  with 
merchandise,  and  after  the  welfare  of  whose 
children  you  desired  me  to  make  inquiries.  They 
are  now,  as  you  are  aware,  grown  to  the  full 
estate  of  manhood  and.  womanhood,  and  still 
dwell  at  Bethany.  Being  friends  of  my  cousin 
Mary,  it  was  decided  that  we  should  stop  there 
to  rest  half  an  hour  before  proceeding  on  our 
way.  It  was  a  plain  and  humble  dwelling,  be- 
fore which  Rabbi  Amos  assisted  me  to  alight; 
but  there  was  an  air  of  sweet  domestic  repose 
about  it  that  at  once  came  home  to  my  heart,  and 
made  me  love  the  place  even  before  I  had  seen 
the  inmates,  who  had  come  out  to  receive,  and 
gone  in  with  my  cousin;  but  on  hearing  of  my 
arrival,  there  came  out  a  fair  young  girl  of 
twenty-two,  with  the  most  amiable  expression  of 
affectionate  welcome;  and,  approaching  me, 
with  mingled  respect  and  love,  she  embraced  me, 
while  Rabbi  Amos  pronounced  our  names  to 
each  other.  I  felt  immediately  as  if  I  were  in  a 


THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE   OP  DAVID.          11$ 

•    I          fe| 

sister's  arms,  and  that  I  should  love  her  aiways. 
Next  came  forth  a  young  man  of  about  thirty 
years  of  age,  with  a  countenance  of  exceedingly 
interesting  expression,  full  of  intellect  and  good 
will.  He  was  pale  and  habitually  thoughtful, 
but  a  fine  friendly  light  beamed  in  his  dark, 
handsome  eyes,  as  he  extended  his  hand  to  wel- 
come me.  You  have  already  had  a  full  descrip- 
tion of  him,  and  of  his  character,  in  one  of  my 
former  letters,  and  need  not  be  told  that  it  was  the 
son  of  your  friend.  At  the  threshold,  Martha, 
the  eldest  sister,  met  me,  but  with  more  cere- 
mony, and  made  an  apology  for  receiving  into  so 
lowly  a  dwelling  the  rich  heiress  of  Alexandria, 
as  she  termed  me;  but  I  embraced  her  so  affec- 
tionately, that  this  feeling  passed  away  instantly. 
I  was  much  struck  with  this  whole  family.  Each 
member  of  it  possessed  attractions  of  a  peculiar 
kind ;  and  in  all  three  I  seemed  to  have  found  two 
sisters  and  a  brother.  Martha  busied  herself  at 
once  to  prepare  refreshments  for  us,  and  soon  set 
before  us  a  frugal  but  agreeable  repast,  more 
than  we  desired;  for  we  all  insisted  that  we 
needed  nothing,  as  we  had  not  been  long  in  the 
sadle.  Mary,  in  the  meantime,  and  Lazarus,  sat 
on  either  side  ol  me,  and  asked  me  many  ques- 
tions about  Alexandria,  and  particularly  if  I  had 
ever  seen  their  father's  tomb.  And  when  I  told 
them  that  at  my  father's  request  I  had  kept  the 
flowers  fresh  about  it,  they  both  pressed 
hands  and  thanked  me  so  gratefully,  that  tears  in 
my  own  eyes  answered  to  the  tears  in  theirs. 
How  shall  I  describe  to  you  the  loveliness  of 


114         THE  PBIKCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

the  person  of  Mary,  and  yet  not  so  much  the  per- 
fection of  feature  as  the  soul  which  animates 
them,  and  lends  them  a  charm  that  I  cannot  ade- 
quately convey  to  you?  Her  eyes  are  of  that  re- 
markable color  so  seldom  seen  among  our  peo- 
ple, and  when  it  is,  is  of  a  richer  and  more  ceru- 
lean tone  than  is  found  in  the  azure-eyed  natives 
of  the  north.  They  are  as  blue  as  the  skies  of 
Judea,  and  yet  possess  all  the  starry,  torrid  splen- 
dor of  the  eyes  of  the  Hebrew  maids.  Her  hair, 
which  is  a  soft,  golden  brown,  is  worn  knotted  in 
wavy  masses  about  her  superbly  moulded  neck. 
Her  air  is  serene  and  confiding,  and  she  has  so 
little  art  that  she  lets  you  read  all  the  secrets  of 
her  pure  soul  in  the  summer  heaven  of  the  sweet 
eyes  I  have  spoken  of.  There  is  an  indescribable 
pensiveness  about  her  that  is  most  touching,  and 
at  the  same  time  pleasing. 

Martha,  the  oldest,  is  of  a  more  lively  dispo- 
sition, yet  more  commanding  in  her  aspect,  be- 
ing taller,  and  almost  queenly.  Her  eyes  and 
hair  are  jet  black;  the  former  mild,  and  beaming 
-with  intelligence,  like  those  of  her  brother 
Lazarus,  whom  she  resembles.  She  has  a  win- 
ning voice  and  a  manner  that  leads  you  to  feel 
strong  confidence  in  her  friendship.  She  seemed 
to  take  the  whole  management  of  our  entertain- 
ment upon  herself,  which  the  quieter  Man"  left  to 
her,  as  if  a  matter  of  course,  preferring  rather  to 
talk  with  me  about  the  land  of  Egypt,  where  our 
fathers  were  so  long  in  bondage,  and  about 
•which  all  our  young  people  in  Judea  have  such 
awful  ideas.  Mary  asked  me  if  I  was  not  afraid 


THE   PRINCE  OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  115 

to  dwell  there?  if  I  ever  saw  the  tomb  of  the 
Pharaohs?  and  if  the  seventy  pyramids  of  the 
Nilus  were  not  the  work  of  our  forefathers? 
Lazarus  conversed  chiefly  with  Rabbi  Amos,  who 
questioned  him  with  much  interest  about  the 
prophet  John  of  the  wilderness,  to  whom,  you 
will  remember,  I  wrote  you  Lazarus  had  paid  a 
visit.  After  our  repast,  Martha  showed  me  three 
beautiful  bands  of  embroidery,  which  she  was 
working  for  the  new  veil  of  the  Temple  to  be 
put  up  next  year ;  for  the  sisters  live  by  working 
needle-work  for  the  Temple,  and  Lazarus  makes 
copies  of  the  Law  and  Psalms  for  the  priests.  He 
showed  me  his  copying-table,  and  the  rolls  upon 
it,  some  partly  done,  some  quite  complete.  He 
also  showed  me  a  copy  of  the  book  of  Isaiah, 
which  he  had  just  finished,  and  which  had  occu- 
pied him  one  hundred  and  seven  days.  It  was 
exquisitely  executed.  Another  incomplete  copy 
was  thrown  aside,  and  was  destined  to  be  burned, 
because  he  had  made  a  mistake  in  forming  one 
letter;  for  if  an  iota  be  added  too  much,  the  work 
is  condemned  and  burned,  so  strict  are  the 
priests  that  perfect  and  immaculate  copies  of  the 
Law,  and  none  others,  shall  exist.  Mary,  also, 
showed  me  a  beautifully  embroidered  foot-tablet, 
•which  the  wife  of  Pilate,  when  she  was  last  from 
Cesarea,  ordered  for  herself. 

"I  shall  not  receive  coin  for  it,"  said  Mary, 
''but  present  it  to  her;  for  she  has  ever  been  very 
kind  to  us ;  and  when,  last  year,  she  and  the  Pro- 
curator Pilate,  her  lord,  came  up  from  Cesarea  to 
Jerusalem,  about  the  time  of  the  Passover,  she 


116          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

sent  her  own  household  physician  to  heal  Laz- 
arus, who  was  taken  sick  from  over-much  con- 
finement to  his  tasks.  She  knew  us  only  by  in- 
quiring who  it  was  who  worked  the  embroider- 
ing of  the  altar  mantles,  which  she  had  much 
admired." 

Seeing  upon  the  table  a  richly  worked  book- 
cover  of  silk  and  velvet,  with  the  letters  "I.  N." 
embroidered  in  olive  leaves  upon  it,  I  asked  her 
if  that,  it  being  so  elegant,  was  not  for  the  High 
Priest? 

"No,"  answered  Martha,  with  brightening 
eyes,  speaking  before  her  sister  could  reply,  "that 
is  for  our  friend,  and  the  friend  and  brother  of 
Lazarus." 

"What  is  his  name?"  I  asked. 

"Jesus,  of  Nazareth." 

"I  have  heard  John  speak  of  him,"  said  my 
cousin  Mary,  with  animation,  and  appealing  to 
me,  reminded  me  how  John  had  repeated  what 
Lazarus  had  spoken  to  him  of  his  friend  from 
Nazareth,  which  I  have  written  to  you.  "I  should 
feel  happy,"  added  my  cousin,  "to  know  him 
also." 

"And  from  what  I  have  heard  of  him,"  said  I, 
"it  would  be,  indeed,  a  pleasure  to  see  him." 

The  two  sisters  listened  to  us  with  pleasure, 
and  Martha  said: 

"If  you  had  been  here  a  few  days  ago,  you 
would  have  seen  him.  He  left  us,  after  being 
with  us  three  weeks,  to  go  to  Nazareth  again. 
But  he  requested  to  .meet  Lazarus  at  Bethabara, 
on  the  third  day  from  this,  for  some  important 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.          117 

reason ;  and  my  brother  will  go,  for  he  loves  him 
so  that  he  would  cross  the  seas  to  meet  him." 

"Then,"  said  Rabbi  Amos  to  Lazarus,  "if  you 
are  to  journey  so  soon  towards  Jordan  to  meet 
your  friend,  you  had  best  join  our  company,  and 
share  our  escort."  To  this  Lazarus,  after  some 
consultation  with  his  sisters,  consented. 

What  a  happy  family,  thought  I,  is  this !  The 
sisters  happy  in  each  other's  love,  the  brother 
happy  in  theirs,  all  three  united  as  one  in  the 
purest  affection,  and  yet  a  fourth  is  added  to  the 
circle,  whose  love  for  the  three  is  equal  to  theirs 
for  him!  Humble  in  station,  poor,  and  depen- 
dent upon  the  labor  of  their  hands  for  their  daily 
bread,  yet  their  household  is  one  that  kings 
might  envy,  and  which  no  gold  or  jewels  could 
purchase. 

I  left  this  blessed  abode  of  fraternal  friendship 
with  regret,  and  felt  that  I  should  be  perfectly 
happy  if  I  could  be  admitted  as  a  fifth  link  in  the 
wreath  of  their  mutual  love.  Even  the  Roman 
Centurion  had  been  struck  with  the  air  of  peace- 
ful repose  reigning  there,  and  spoke  of  it  to  me 
as  we  rode  away. 

About  noon  we  stopped  at  a  caravansera,  half 
the  way  to  Jericho  from  Bethany.  Here  we 
overtook  a  friend  of  Rabbi  Amos,  the  venerable 
and  .learned  scholar  and  lawyer,  Gamaliel.  He 
was,  he  confessed,  also  riding  to  Jordan,  to  have 
an  interview  with  the  prophet,  being  persuaded 
to  seek  it  on  account  of  an  extraordinary  dream 
he  had,  which  he  repeated  to  his  friend  Rabbi 
Amos,  b  1t  not  in  our  hearing;  but  the  effect 


118          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

upon  my  uncle  excited  a  good  ddal  of  my  curi- 
osity to  know  what  it  was,  but  he  has  been  studi- 
ously silent  upon  the  subject.  Accompanying 
the  lawyer,  Gamaliel,  was  a  young  man  who  was 
his  disciple,  and  who  went  with  him  as  a  com- 
panion by  the  way.  His  name  is  Saul;  and  I 
noticed  him  particularly,  because  I  overheard  the 
venerable  lawyer  say  that  he  was  the  most  re- 
markable young  man  who  had  ever  sat  at  his  feet 
to  learn  the  mysteries  of  the  law.  This  young 
law-disciple  and  Lazarus  rode  together,  and 
talked  long  and  earnestly  by  the  way,  the  former 
thinking  that  nothing  but  mischief  would  come 
of  the  new  prophet's  preaching,  while  the  latter 
\varmly  defended  him  and  his  mission  as  divine. 
To  their  conversation  the  Roman  Centurion  lis- 
tened with  the  closest  attention,  for  Saul  was 
learned  in  the  Prophets,  and  drew  richly  from  its 
stores  to  prove  that  the  true  Messias  can  never 
be  heralded  by  so  mean  a  messenger  as  this 
preacher  of  repentance  in  the  wilderness.  Saul 
eloquently  drew  a  gorgeous  picture  of  Messias' 
coming,  and  the  splendor  of  his  reign,  and  that 
angels  and  heavenly  signs,  and  not  a  wild  man  of 
the  wilderness,  with  water  baptism,  should  pre- 
pare the  way  before  him. 

At  length,  as  the  day  closed,  we  came  in  sight 
of  the  walls  and  towers  of  Jericho,  but  succeeded 
in  reaching  the  gates  only  after  they  were  closed. 
But  the  presence  of  the  young  Centurion  caused 
them  to  be  immediately  reopened,  and  we  were 
admitted,  with  some  hundreds,  who,  having 
reached  the  gate  after  it  was  shut,  now  begged 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DA.VID.  119 

and  received  permission  to  enter  in  our  com- 
pany. 

The  next  day  we  proceeded  to  Gilgal  alone,  the 
road  being  perfectly  safe,  the  courteous  Roman 
having  early  the  same  morning  issued  from  the 
gates,  in  haste  to  pursue  the  famous  Barabbas, 
who  had  the  last  night  attacked  a  caravan  within 
four  leagues  of  Jordan,  and  taken  much  booty,  as 
well  as  slain  many  men. 

"I  now  write  to  thee  beneath  the  roof  of  the 
summer  residence  of  Rabbi  Amos.  To-morrow, 
early,"  says  a  passage  which  I  copy  from  my 
journal,  written  there,  "we  are  going  to  Betha- 
bara,  a  little  village  beyond  Jordan,  but  on  its 
banks,  near  which  we  learn  John  is  now  bap- 
tizing, he  being  no  longer  at  the  ford  of  Jordan, 
where  my  cousin  Mary's  betrothed,  John,  found 
him,  and  was  baptized  of  him  a  few  weeks  ago. 
Lazarus  has  gone  on  with  Saul,  and  the  learned 
Gamaliel,  with  many  lawyers  and  doctors  in 
company,  who  desire  to  see  and  hear  this  prophet 
of  the  wilderness." 

Indeed,  dear  father,  the  advent  of  a  prophet  is 
of  so  rare  an  occurrence  among  us,  that  the  bare 
idea  that  John  the  Baptizer  may  be  a  true 
prophet  of  God,  has  moved  the  great  heart  of 
Israel,  and  stirred  up  curiosity,  hope,  and  marvel, 
in  the  highest  degree  ever  known  in  the  land. 
There  seems  to  be  but  one  subject,  and  but  one 
thought.  Every  man  says  to  his  neighbor: 
"Have  you  seen  or  heard  the  new  prophet?  Is 
he  Messias,  or  is  he  Elias?" 

My  next  letter  will  give  you  a  narration,  my 


120          THE  PBINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

dear  father,  of  what  I  witnessed  at  Bathabarat 
and  will,  perhaps,  more  deeply  interest  you  than 
anything  I  have  yet  written. 

That  the  hope  of  Israel  may  not  be  long  de- 
ferred, and  that  we  may  receive  the  Messias, 
when  he  cometh,  in  humble  faith,  in  honor,  and 
in  love,  is  the  prayer  of 

Your  affectionate  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER    IX. 

My  Dear  Father: — In  these  letters  to  you 
which  give  an  account  of  my  excursion  with 
Rabbi  Amos  to  the  Jordan,  I  hope  you  will  par- 
don the  details  which  I  enter  into,  for  it  is  my 
earnest  desire  that  you  should  see  everything 
with  my  eyes,  as  if  you  had  been  present  with 
me;  in  order  that  you  may,  though  absent,  be 
able  to  judge  as  if  you  had  been  an  eye-witness  of 
the  remarkable  events  of  which  I  have  under- 
taken to  give  you  a  complete  history.  I  know 
that  your  liberal  mind,  and  your  sense  of  equity 
and  justice,  will  lead  you  to  read  all  I  have  to 
write  before  you  take  upon  you  to  make  a  reply 
to  the  facts  which,  with  filial  love  and  reverence, 
I  present  to  your  consideration. 

After  Rabbi  Amos  had  reached  the  house  in 
the  wheatfields  of  Gilgal,  where  he  intended  to 
take  up  his  sojourn  for  the  two  weeks  of  harvest, 
and  had  directed  his  servants  what  to  do,  he. 
kindly  told  us  that  he  was  ready  to  accompany 


122          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

my  cousin  Mary  and  myself  to  the  Jordan,  to  hear 
the  prophet.  It  was  with  no  little  gratification, 
therefore,  that  my  cousin  and  myself  once  more 
mounted  our  mules,  and  proceeded  towards  the 
place  where  we  heard  the  prophet  was  baptizing. 
But  we  had  not  ridden  a  great  way  from  the 
house  when  we  overtook  two  men  on  foot,  with 
staves  in  their  hands  and  wallets  upon  their 
shoulders.  As  we  passed,  one  of  them  raised 
his  cap  with  respect  to  Rabbi  Amos,  who,  from 
his  rank  as  a  priest,  and  his  venerable  appear- 
ance, always  commands  the  homage  of  all  men. 

"Whither  goest  thou  at  such  a  pace,  friend 
Matthew?"  said  Rabbi  Amos,  returning  his 
salute,  for  he  seemed  to  know  him.  "Canst 
thou  leave  thy  tax-gathering  these  busy  times  to 
go  into  the  wilderness?" 

The  person,  who  was  a  man  of  stout  figure, 
with  dark  hair  and  beard,  and  a  look  of  intelli- 
gence, but  whose  costume  was  plain  and  ill- 
worn,  smiled,  and  answered: 

"If  a  man  would  find  the  payers  of  tribute 
now-a-days,  good  master,  he  must  not  stay  at 
home,  forsooth,  but  go  into  the  wilderness  of 
Jordan  where  all  men  have  gone.  Verily,  this 
new  prophet  emptieth  our  towns,  and  we  publi- 
cans must  remain  idle  in  our  seat  of  customs,  or 
go  with  the  tide." 

"Thy  words  are  near  the  truth,  friend  Mat- 
thew," answered  my  uacle;  "but  hast  thou  no 
other  motive  in  thy  heart  than  looking  after  thy 
Roman  coins,  in  taking  this  journey  from 
Jericho?" 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  t>AVID.          12$ 

"I  have  curiosity  to  see  a  man  whom  multi- 
tudes resort  to  from  Galilee,  and  from  Decapolis, 
and  from  Jerusalem,  and  from  all  Judea,  and 
from  beyond  Jordan." 

"And  thinkest  thou,"  continued  my  uncle,  as 
the  two  men  walked  along  by  the  side  of  his 
mule,  "thinkest  thou  this  prophet  is  a  true  son  of 
the  prophets?" 

He  works  no  miracles,  unless,  indeed,  the 
power  of  his  preaching  be  a  miracle,"  answered 
Matthew. 

"This  man  is  an  imposter.  There  can  be  no 
prophet  unless  he  proves  his  mission  by  mira- 
cles," suddenly  said  the  companion  of  Matthew, 
speaking  up  abruptly  in  a  sharp  and  unpleasing 
voice.  Now  neither  Mary  nor  I  liked  the  face  of 
this  man  from  the  first.  He  was  of  good  height, 
he  was  well-featured,  and  his  attire  was  rich ;  but 
he  had  a  haughty  air,  combined  with  a  cringing 
deference  to  Rabbi  Amos,  that  made  me  think  he 
must  be  a  hypocrite.  He  smiled  with  his  mouth 
and  teeth,  but  at  the  same  time  looked  sinister 
out  of  his  eyes.  He  had  an  air  of  humility  which 
seemed  to  me  to  be  put  on  to  conceal  the  pride 
and  wickedness  of  his  character.  He  looked  like 
a  man  who  could  artfully  deceive  to  gain  his  sel- 
fish ends,  and  who  would  kneel  to  you  to  over- 
turn you.  The  sound  of  his  voice  confirmed  my 
first  impression  of  him.  Upon  his  speaking, 
Rabbi  Amos  fixed  his  eyes  upon  him,  as  if  he  did 
not  like  the  manner  of  his  breaking  in  upon  the 
conversation,  and  then  mildly  replied: 

"Moses  performed  no  miracles.       Aaron,  or 


124  THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

Aaron's  rod  was  the  instrument  whereby  these 
were  done  before  Pharaoh.  This  prophet  may 
be  as  Aaron  to  the  great  Prophet  he  foretelleth. 
What  is  thy  companion's  name,  friend  Mat- 
thew?" he  asked,  aside,  as  the  other  walked  on 
ahead. 

"His  name  is  Judas,  called  Iscariot.  He  hath 
been  engaged  by  me  to  bear  the  moneys  I  col- 
lect in  the  country  villages;  and  as  we  are  to 
gather  taxes  both  at  Gilgal  and  Bethabara,  he 
cometh  with  me." 

We  now  came  in  sight  of  the  Jordan,  but  could 
discover  no  crowd  upon  its  banks.  While  we 
were  wondering  at  not  beholding  any  signs  of 
the  multitude,  we  met  a  stranger  who  was  riding 
a  horse,  and  coming  from  the  northward,  who, 
seeing  us  apparently  in  perplexity,  inquired  with 
courtesy,  if  we  were  not  seeking  John  the  proph- 
et. Upon  Rabbi  Amos  replying  in  the  affirma- 
tive, the  horseman  informed  us  that  he  had  re- 
moved up  the  river,  some  two  hours'  ride,  and 
was  then  baptizing  at  the  little  village  of  Betha- 
bara, on  the  east  bank  of  Jordan ;  and  he  added, 
that  not  less  than  eight  thousand  people  must  be 
thronging  the  shore. 

"Dost  thou  know  this  stranger?"  asked  of 
Matthew  Rabbi  Amos,  who  had  gratefully 
thanked  him  for  his  intelligence,  looking  back 
after  him,  as  he  rode  on.  "I  saw  thee  salute 
him." 

"He  is  an  officer  of  Herod  the  Tetrarch's 
household,"  was  the  response,  "a  Hebrew  of 
great  wealth,  and  he  payeth  more  tribute-money; 


THE  PRINCE   OP  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  125 

to  the  emperor  from  his  lands  than  any  Israelite 
between  Jericho  and  Jerusalem." 

At  length,  dear  father,  after  hastening  the 
speed  of  our  mules,  and  riding  pleasantly  for  two 
hours  along  the  verdant  banks  of  Jordan,  we 
came  in  sight  of  a  square  tower  of  stone,  peering 
above  the  trees,  which  marked  the  site  of  the 
village  of  Bethabara.  "That  tower,"  said  Rabbi 
Amos,  "stands  over  a  cave  in  which  Elijah  long 
dwelt,  and  in  which  Isaiah  at  one  time  concealed 
himself  from  his  enemies.  It  is  now  called  the 
'Tower  of  Elijah/  From  the  summit  of  yonder 
hill,  at  the  left,  the  prophet  was  caught  up,  and 
ascended  to  heaven  upon  the  chariot  of  fire ;  and 
near  where  you  see  the  single  rock,  Elisha 
divided  Jordan,  with  the  fallen  mantle  left  him 
by  the  ascending  prophet  of  God." 

All  these  places,  with  many  others,  which  the 
intelligent  Rabbi  Amos  pointed  out  to  us,  were 
very  interesting  to  me,  for  nothing  commands 
my  atention  so  profoundly  as  allusions  to  the 
scenes  of  the  olden  days  of  the  prophets  and 
kings  of  Israel.  While  my  eyes  were  fixed  upon 
the  hill,  and  my  imagination  presented  to  me 
Elijah  upon  the  chariot  of  heaven,  disappearing- 
amid  the  clouds,  there  was  an  opening  in  the 
wood  before  us,  and  all  at  once  we  beheld  a 
scene  that  made  my  heart  cease  to  beat,  it  was 
so  new  and  wonderful.  At  that  place  the  river 
takes  a  broad  curve,  and  the  opposite  village  of 
Bethabara  lies  in  the  hollow  of  it,  forming  the 
centre  of  half  a  circle.  This  wide  curving:  shore 
was  alive  with  the  human  heads  that  filled  it. 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 


Not  a  place  could  be  seen  where  some  one  did 
not  stand.  And  of  this  vast  multitude  every  eye 
•was  concentrated  upon  the  prophet,  as  from  the 
crescent  tiers  of  the  amphitheatre  in  Alexandria, 
all  gaze  at  once  upon  the  scenes  passing  in  the 
arena.  He  was  standing  upon  the  opposite  shore 
(for  Jordan  here  was  very  narrow,  and  can  be 
forded),  on  the  verge  of  the  water,  addressing  the 
countless  assembly  that  stood  opposite  and  half 
encircling  him.  Near  him,  behind,  and  on  either 
side,  sat  his  disciples,  at  least  a  hundred  in  num- 
ber, chiefly  young  men.  Behind,  rose  the  Tower 
of  Elijah,  and  receding  farther  from  the  shore  lay 
the  sweet  village  of  Bethabara,  with  its  green 
gardens  and  snow-white  walls. 

The  clear  voice  of  the  youthful  prophet  of  the 
•wilderness  fell  distinctly  on  our  ears,  so  great 
\vas  the  stillness  of  the  vast  audience.  We  could 
not  approach  very  near  on  our  mules,  and,  dis- 
mounting on  the  outskirts  of  the  throng,  we  left 
them  with  the  two  servants,  and  on  foot  drew  as 
near  to  the  place  where  the  prophet  stood  as  we 
could.  Many  of  the  people,  seeing  and  recog- 
nizing Rabbi  Amos,  made  way  for  him,  so  that 
at  length  we  stood  directly  opposite  the  speaker, 
with  a  full  view  of  him,  so  that  we  could  hear 
every  word.  To  my  surprise,  I  saw  John,  the 
cousin  of  Mary,  standing  close  to  the  prophet, 
and  listening  with  the  deepest  and  most  reverent 
attention  to  every  word  he  uttered.  The  subject 
of  the  prophet's  discourse  was  as  before,  and  as 
always,  the  coming  of  the  Messias.  Oh,  that  I 


THE   PKIXCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  127 

could,  give  you,  my  dear  father,  the  faintest  idea 
of  the  power  and  eloquence  of  his  words! 

"There  is  no  remission  of  sin  without  shedding 
of  blood,"  he  said  earnestly.  'The  baptism  of 
water  with  which  I  baptize  you  is  unto  repent- 
ance; but  there  must  be  blood  outpoured  ere  sin 
can  be  washed  away!  Do  you  ask  me  if  the 
blood  of  bulls  and  goats  take  not  away  sin?  I 
answer  and  say  unto  you,  that  the  Lord  hath  said 
that  he  delighteth  not  in  these  rivers  of  blood.'' 

"For  what,  then,  great  prophet,"  asked  one  of 
the  chief  Levites  who  stood  near  us,  "For  what, 
then,  are  the  sacrifices  ordained  by  the  Law  of 
Moses?  For  what,  then,  the  altar  and  the 
Temple,  and  the  daily  sacrifice  of  the  Lamb?" 

"For  what,"  repeated  the  prophet,  with  his 
eyes  beaming  with  the  earnest  light  of  inspira- 
tion, "For  what,  but  as  types  and  shadows  of  the 
true  blood — of  the  real  and  true  sacrifice 
appointed  by  God  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world!  Think  ye  I  can  slay  the  lamb-  of  my 
flock  for  the  sin  of  my  soul?  If  God  demands 
thy  life,  shall  he  accept  the  life  of  a  brute?  Nay, 
men  of  Israel,  the  day  has  come  when  your  eyes 
shall  be  opened.  The  hour  is  at  hand  when  the 
true  meaning  of  the  daily  sacrifice  shall  be  under- 
stood. Lo!  the  Messiah  cometh,  and  ye  shall 
see  and  believe!" 

There  now  came  several  persons  towards  him 
who  'desired  baptism.  While  he  was  baptizing 
these  persons,  both  men  and  women,  I  saw 
appear  on  the  little  mound  near  the  tower  from. 
v;hich  Rabbi  Amos  had  said  Elijah  ascended,, 


128  THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

Lazarus,  the  brother  of  Martha,  accompanied 
by  a  man  of  about  his  own  years,  of  an  indescrib- 
able dignity  and  grace  of  aspect,  combined  with 
an  air  of  benevolence  and  peace  that  at  once 
attracted  me. 

"It  must  be  the  friend  of  Lazarus,"  said  Mary 
to  me;  for  she  had  discovered  them  at  the  same 
time.  "See  with  what  calm  serenity  he  gazes 
upon  the  multitude,  yet  retiring  in  his  manner, 
as  if  he  shrank  from  the  common  eye!"  He  was 
wrapped  in  a  vesture  of  dark  blue  cloth,  which 
was  folded  about  his  form;  his  head  was  bare, 
and  his  dark  hair  flowed  down  about  his  should- 
ers. He  seemed  so  unlike  all  other  men,  in  a 
certain  majesty  united  with  sweetness,  that 
marked  his  whole  air,  that  I  could  not  withdraw 
my  gaze  from  him. 

The  prophet,  at  the  same  moment,  rested  his 
eyes  upon  him,  and  as  he  did  so,  I  saw  a  change 
come  over  his  face,  as  if  he  had  seen  an  angel. 
His  eyes  shone  with  unearthly  brilliancy,  his  lips 
parted  as  if  he  would  speak,  yet  had  lost  the 
power;  and  then,  with  his  right  hand  stretched 
forth  towards  the  noble  stranger,  he  stood  for  a 
moment  like  a  statue.  All  eyes  followed  his,  and 
the  direction  of  his  stretched-out  arm.  Sud- 
denly, he  exclaimed,  and  oh,  how  like  the 
trumpet  of  Horeb  his  voice  rung: 

"Behold!" 

There  was  not  a  face  in  that  vast  multitude 
that  was  not  directed  towards  the  little  eminence, 
where  Lazarus,  evidently  amazed  at  the  attitude 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          12& 

and  words  of  the  prophet,  and  the  ga2e  of  all 
that  way,  stood  by  his  friend. 

"Ye  have  asked  wherefore  is  slain  the  daily 
lamb,"  continued  the  prophet.  "The  day  has 
come  when  the  lamb  of  sacrifice,  which  can  take 
away  no  sin,  shall  cease.  Behold!"  and  here  he 
stretched  forth  both  arms  towards  the  dignified 
stranger:  "Behold  the  Lamb  of  God  which 
taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world.  He  it  is  who, 
coming  after  me,  is  preferred  before  me.  He  it 
is  to  whom  I  bear  witness,  as  the  Messiah,  the 
Son  of  the  Highest!  There  stands  the  Christ  of 
God!  Behold  the  only  true  Lamb,  whose  blood 
can  wash  away  the  iniquities  of  us  all!  He  hath 
stood  among  you — He  hath  walked  your  streets 
— He  hath  sat  in  your  homes,  and  I  knew  him 
not,  till  I  now  behold  above  Him  the  sign  of  the 
Messiah,  and,  therefore,  know  I  that  it  is  He 
•who  is  to  redeem  Israel !" 

When  the  prophet  had  thus  spoken  in  a  voice 
that  thrilled  to  every  bosom,  we  beheld  the 
august  stranger  advance  towards  the  prophet. 
He  moved  on  alone.  Lazarus  had  fallen  pros- 
trate on  his  face  when  he  heard  that  it  was  the 
Messiah  with  whom  he  had  thus  been  on  terms 
of  friendship.  As  he  continued  to  corne  for- 
ward, all  was  expectation  in  the  immense  multi- 
tude. The  mass  of  heads  swayed  this  way  and 
that,  to  get  a  sight  of  his  face,  which  I  could  see 
was  serene,  but  pale  and  earnest.  John,  the 
cousin  of  Mary,  seeing  him  approach,  lowly 
knelt,  and  bowed  his  head  in  reverential  awe  and 
love.  Those  who  stood  between  him  and  the 


430  THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

prophet  moved  apart,  and  left  an  open  path  for 
him  to  the  water-side.  He  walked  at  a  slow  and 
even  pace,  with  an  air  of  humility,  veiling  the 
native  dignity  of  his  kingly  port. 

The  prophet,  on  seeing  him  come  near, 
regarded  Him,  as  it  seemed  to  me,  with  more> 
awe  than  all  others. 

"What  wouldst  thou  of  thy  servant,  oh, 
Messiah,  Prophet  of  God,  mighty  to  save?"  he 
said,  in  tremulous  tones,  as  the  Messian  came 
even  some  paces  into  the  water  towards  him. 

"To  be  baptized  of  thee,"  answered  the  Christ, 
in  a  still,  quiet  voice,  that  was  heard  to  the  re- 
motest bounds  of  the  crowd.  Never,  oh,  never 
shall  I  forget  the  sounds  of  that  voice,  ~3  it  fell 
upon  my  ears ! 

"I  have  need  to  be  baptized  of  Thee,  and 
comest  Thou  to  me?"  answered  the  prophet,  with 
the  lowliest  humility  and  awe  of  manner,  and 
with  looks  expressive  of  his  amazement. 

"It  becometh  us  to  fulfil  all  righteousness," 
answered  Messiah,  mildly;  and  when  He  had  said 
this,  the  prophet,  though  still  with  a  manner  of 
doubt,  and  with  the  holiest  reverence,  adminis- 
tered unto  Him,  in  the  sight  of  all  the  people, 
the  same  baptism  which  he  had  administered  to 
his  disciples. 

And  now,  my  dear  father,  comes  to  be  related, 
the  most  extraordinary  thing  that  ever  took 
place  in  Israel,  and  before  human  eyes,  and 
which  it  must  be  clear  to  you  bears  unquestion- 
.able  testimony,  that  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  noble 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  131 

stranger  baptized  in  Jordan,  and  to  whom  John 
bore  Witness,  is  truly  Messias,  the  Son  of  God. 

No  sooner  did  the  baptized  stranger  go  up  out 
of  the  water,  than  there  was  heard  above  all  our 
heads  a  noise  of  rolling  thunder,  although  the 
sky  was  cloudless;  and  when  we  looked  up  we 
beheld  a  dazzling  light,  though  it  was  noon-day, 
brighter  than  the  sun;  and  from  the  midst  of  this 
celestial  splendor  there  darted  with  arrowy 
velocity  a  ray  of  light,  which  descended  upon  the 
head  of  the  Christ.  Some  of  the  people  said  it 
thundered;  and  others  that  it  lightened;  but 
judge  the  amazement  and  admiration  of  all,  and 
the  dread  awe  that  shook  every  soul,  when,  amid 
the  glory  above  his  head,  was  seen  the  form  of  a 
dove  of  fire,  with  outspread  wings  overshadow- 
ing Him  as  it  were,  and  from  the  heavens,  what 
was  supposed  to  be  thunder,  shaped  itself  into  the 
voice  of  God,  which  uttered  these  words  in  the 
hearing  of  every  ear: 

"This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well 
pleased.  Hear  ye  Him." 

At  hearing  these  words,  a  great  part  of  the 
multitude  fell  on  their  faces.  Every  cheek  was 
pale,  and  each  man  gazed  on  his  neighbor  m 
wonder  and  fear.  When  the  majestic,  yet  ter- 
rible voice  had  given  utterance  to  these  words, 
the  light  disappeared,  the  dove  reascended  to 
the  skies,  and  was  lost  to  the  sight;  and  Messias, 
who  alone  seemed  unmoved  and  calm  amid  all 
this  awful  scene,  went  up  from  the  river,  and  dis- 
appeared suddenly  from  my  earnest  gaze.  At 
length,  when  men  came  a  little  to  themselves,. 


132          THE   PRINCE  OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

and  would  gaze  on  Him  whom  all  knew  now  to 
be  the  Christ,  no  one  could  find  Him,  so  effectu- 
ally had  he  withdrawn  himself  from  their 
Jiomage. 

affectionate 

ADINA. 


LETTER  X. 

My  Dear  Father: — I  will  commence  this  letter 
by  asking  your  dispassionate  perusal  of  my  pre- 
ceding epistle,  and  entreating  you  not  to  let  any 
prejudice  unworthy  of  the  wisdom  and  liberality 
by  which  you  are  distinguished  among  men,  lead 
you  to  reject,  without  examination,  belief  of  the 
events  which  have  formed  the  subject  of  my 
recent  letters  to  you,  and  to  close  your  mind  to 
tiie  convictions  to  which  they  may  give  rise. 
Please,  my  honored  and  beloved  father,  please  to 
consider  impartially  the  things  of  which  I  have 
written,  the  preaching  of  John,  and  his  baptism 
of  Jesus,  whom,  before  ten  thousand  people,  he 
declared  to  be  Messias,  to  whom  he  bore 
witness,  and  how  the  voice  of  God,  as  audible  in 
the  ears  of  all  as  that  wrhich  shook  Horeb,  pro- 
claimed from  heaven  that  he  was  "His  beloved 
son!"  Think  of  all  this,  and  ask  yourself  seri- 
ously, "Is  not  this  the  Christ?" 

This  question  need  not  pass  far  on  its  way  ere 


134          THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

it  finds  a  response  from  my  lips  and  heart: 
"Yes,  it  is  the  Christ,  and  I  will  believe  in  Him!" 
I  can  see  your  face,  my  dear  father,  change  its 
expression  of  mild  benignity,  as  you  read  this 
confession  from  my  pen!  I  can  see  you  look 
both  displeased  and  grieved.  But  you  have  no 
reason  to  fear  that  I  shall  do  or  believe  aught 
that  will  bring  shame  on  your  gray  hairs,  or  your 
name.  If  thou  art  a  Jew,  and  proud  of  being 
descended  from  the  lineage  of  the  Patriarchs 
who  walked  with  the  Lord,  I  am  also  equally 
proud  of  my  nation  and  of  my  faith.  In  believ- 
ing Jesus  of  Nazareth  to  be  the  Messias  of  God, 
I  do  not  make  myself  less  a  Jewess;  but,  with- 
out believing  it,  my  dear  father,  I  could  not  be 
completely  a  Jewess.  Has  not  the  Messias  of 
our  nation  been  the  burden  of  Judah's  prayer, 
and  of  Israel's  hope,  for  ages?  Does  not  the 
belief  that  Messias  cometh,  constitute  one  of 
the  great  characteristics  of  the  Jewish  race?  Do 
the  Gentiles  look  for  the  Christ?  If  not,  then, 
and  we  alone  look  for  him,  and  every  mother  in 
Israel  hopes,  tremblingly,  with  joy  and  doubt, 
that  he  may  be  found  in  her  first-born  son,  is  it 
that  I  am  less  a  Jewess,  or  rather,  that  I  am  only 
a  true  Jewess,  when  I  believe  Jesus  to  be  the 
Messias,  seeing  in  Him  all  that  a  Messias  could 
bring,  even  the  voice  of  God,  in  testimony  of  Hie 
Mission?  But  I  sincerely  trust,  my  dear  father. 
that  I  am  defending  my  belief  unnecessarily,  and 
that  when  you  come  to  read  and  compare,  and 
examine  well,  you  will  rejoice  with  me  that  God 


THE  PRINCE   OP  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  135 

"has  remembered  Israel,  and  that  He  is  about  to 
take  away  her  reproach  among  the  nations. 

I  shall  wait  for  your  next  parcel  of  letters  with 
the  deepest  solicitude,  in  order  that  I  may  know 
what  your  decision  is  in  reference  to  these  extra- 
ordinary things  which  are  coming  to  pass.-  You. 
will  not  hear  them  only  from  my  letters,  dear 
father,  for  the  report  of  these  wonders  is  broad- 
cast over  the  land,  and  men  who  witnessed  the 
baptism  of  Jesus,  will,  no  doubt,  report  in  Egypt 
what  then  took  place,  especially  the  voice  of  God 
rolling  like  articulate  thunder  along  the  cloud- 
less sky,  and  the  descent  of  the  fiery  dove  upon 
the  head  of  the  new  Prophet.  Merchants  of 
Damascus  and  of  Cairo  were  present,  leaving 
their  trains  of  camels  a  little  way  off;  and  Arab 
horsemen  sat  in  their  saddles  on  the  outside  of 
the  crowd;  while  Roman  soldiers,  strangers  from 
Persia  and  Edom,  and  even  the  merchants  from 
Media,  with  numerous  people,  Gentiles,  as  well 
as  Jews,  were  seen  mingled  with  the  multitude. 
This  thing,  therefore,  was  not  done  in  a  corner. 
The  voice  I  plainly  heard,  and  understood  every 
word!  It  seemed  to  me  to  come  from  the  far 
blue  depths  of  Heaven,  at  an  immeasurable  dis- 
tance, but  with  the  clearness  of  a  trumpet,  and 
the  sonorous  majesty  of  thunder.  But  the  light 
\vhich  descended  was  the  most  dazzling  that 
human  eyes  ever  encountered;  and  though  when 
descending  with  the  velocity  of  lightning,  it 
seemed  like  a  lance  of  fire;  yet,  upon  reaching 
the  bared  head  of  Jesus,  as  He  came  forth  out  of 
the  water,  it  assumed,  as  I  before  stated,  the 


136          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

shape  of  a  dove;  and,  resting  upon  Him,  over- 
shadowed Him  with  its  wings  of  light,  and  cast 
over  his  whole  person  a  glittering  splendor,  like 
the  sun.  This  lasted  for  full  a  minute,  so  that  ail 
eyes  beheld  it,  and  then  came  the  voice  from 
heaven!  The  brilliancy  of  the  light  from  the 
dove  was  so  resplendent  that  I  could  not  behold 
it;  and  when  I  looked  again  it  had  disappeared; 
but  a  halo  of  softened  lustre  shone  still  around 
the  head  of  Jesus,  and  his  face,  like  that  of 
Moses,  emitted  rays  of  glory.  While  thousands 
either  stood  stupefied,  or  fell  upon  their  faces  in 
adoration  and  fear,  He  withdrew  himself  from 
the  multitude,  no  one  knew  how,  save  two  per- 
sons, whose  eyes  never  wander  from  him.  These 
were  the  cousin  of  Mary,  John,  and  Lazarus,  the 
brother  of  Mary  and  Martha. 

The  people,  after  recovering  a  little  from  their 
amazement  and  awe,  were  looking  for  Him,  and 
inquiring  whither  he  had  gone,  some  gazing  into 
the  water,  some  towards  the  wilderness,  some 
even  gazing  upwards  into  heaven,  of  which  I  was 
one,  as  if  they  expected  to  behold  Him  ascending 
upon  a  chariot  of  dazzling  clouds  towards  the 
throne  of  his  God  and  Father,  who  had  acknow- 
ledged Him  to  be  his  Son.  The  general  impres- 
sion was,  that  He  was  taken  up  into  Heaven; 
and  some  wept  that  a  Prophet  was  sent  to  be 
taken  so  soon:  while  others  rejoiced  that 
the  Lord  had  not  forgotten  to  be  gracious  unto 
the  house  of  Israel;  some  doubted,  and  called  it 
magic  and  sorcerv:  and  others,  who  were  doubt- 
less filled  with  their  own  wickedness,  mocked. 


x  THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  137 

and  said  the  voice  was  thunder,  and  the  light 
lightning.  But  here  they  were  disputed  against, 
for  said  hundreds,  "There  is  no  cloud  in  the  sky, 
then  whence  could  come  thunder  and  light- 
ning?" But  the  majority  believed,  and  greatly 
rejoiced  at  what  they  had  seen  and  heard.  The 
prophet  John,  of  Jordan,  appeared  to  me  to  be 
more  surprised  at  what  had  taken  place  than  any 
others.  He  looked  constantly  around  for  Jesus, 
and  then,  with  his  hands  clasped  together  and 
uplifted,  gazed  heavenward,  as  if  satisfied,  with 
the  thousands  around  him,  that  he  had  been  re- 
ceived up  into  Heaven. 

The  excitement  which  the  sudden  disappear- 
ance of  Jesus  produced,  led  to  "a.  universal  sepa- 
ration of  the  multitude,  who  dispersed  in  all 
directions,  some  to  seek  for  Him,  some  to  spread 
the  news  of  what  they  had  seen,  and  all  forget- 
ting John,  whom  they  had  hitherto  followed,  in 
the  greater  splendor  of  the  new  Prophet,  whose 
advent  had  been  so  remarkably  accompanied  by 
fire  and  voice  from  the  sky. 

Rabbi  Amos  and  our  party  remained  stand- 
ing near  the  water,  for  he  did  not  wish  us  to  be 
lost  in  the  retiring  throngs,  and  he  desired  to 
speak  with  John,  who  stood  alone  in  the  midst 
of  the  water,  precisely  where  he  had  baptized 
Jesus.  Not  one  of  his  disciples  remained  with 
him.  Rabbi  Amos  drew  near,  and  said  to  him: 

"Holy  prophet,  knowest  thou  what  man,  if 
man  he  may  be  called,  was  just  baptized  by 
thee?" 

The  prophet,  whose  eyes  had  been  steadfastly 


138          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

raised  all  the  while,  bent  his  looks  with  tearful 
tenderness  upon  Rabbi  Amos,  and  said,  plain- 
tively and  touchingly : 

"This  is  He  of  whom  I  said — After  me  comcth 
a  man  which  is  preferred  before  me,  for  He  was 
before  me.  And  I  knew  Him  not;  but  He  that 
sent  me,  to  baptize  with  water,  the  same  said 
unto  me,  Upon  whom  thou  shalt  see  the  Spirit 
descending  and  remaining  on  Him,  the  same  is 
He  that  baptizes  with  the  Holy  Ghost.  And  I 
saw  the  Spirit  descending  like  a  dove,  and  I  saw 
and  bear  record  this  is  the  Son  of  God!" 

"And  whither,  oh,  holy  prophet  of  Jordan," 
asked  Rabbi  Amos,  with  deep  and  sacred  inter- 
est, ''whither  has  He  departed?" 

"That  I  know  not!  He  must  increase  and  I 
must  decrease,  whether  He  remaineth  on  earth, 
or  be  taken  up  into  Heaven!  My  mission  is  now 
drawing  to  its  close:  for  He  to  whom  I  have 
borne  witness  is  come." 

"And  is  He  come  to  depart  so  soon  forever?" 
I  asked,  with  deep  interest;  "shall  we  behold 
Him  no  more?" 

"The  hidden  things  belong  to  God.  I  know 
not  whence  He  came,  for  I  knew  Him  not  until 
the  Spirit  descendeth  and  abode  upon  Him,  nor 
whither  He  goeth.  Ye  have  heard  my  testi- 
mony that  this  is  the  Messias,  the  Christ,  the  Son 
of  God!" 

Thus  speaking,  he  turned  and  walked  out  of 
the  water,  on  the  side  towards  Bethabara,  and 
disappeared  among  the  trees  that  fringed  the 
bank.  I  now  looked  in  the  face  of  Rabbi  Amos, 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THB   HOUSE   OF   DAVID  189 

upon  whose  arm  Mary  was  tearfully  leaning,  still 
tinder  the  influence  of  the  terror  which  the  scenes 
she  had  been  a  spectator  of,  had  produced  in  her 
soul.  His  face  was  grave  and  thoughtful.  I 
,said,  "Uncle,  dost  thou  believe  all  that  thou  hast 
seen  and  heard?" 

"I  know  not  what  to  say,"  he  answered,  "only 
that  the  things  which  I  have  beheld  this  day  are 
evidences  that  God  has  not  forgotten  his  people 
Israel!"  He  said  no  more.  We  left  the  banks 
of  the  Jordan  in  silence  and  awe,  and  remounting 
our  mules,  which  the  two  Gibeonite  slaves  held 
for  us  in  waiting,  under  a  palm  tree  not  far  off, 
we  returned  towards  my  uncle's  house  at  Gilgal. 
On  the  way,  we  constantly  passed  crowds  of 
people  who  were  riding  and  walking;  and  all 
were  in  high  talk  about  what  had  taken  place  at 
the  river.  The  impression  seemed  to  be  that 
Jesus  had  gone  up  into  Heaven. 

But,  my  dear  father,  it  is  with  deep  joy  that  I 
am  able  to  tell  you  that  this  wonderful  person  is 
still  on  the  earth,  and  doubtless  permitted  to 
remain  for  some  great  purpose.  I  stated  that 
my  cousin  John,  and  Lazarus,  the  Secretary  of 
the  Scribes,  had  kept  their  eyes  upon  Him  frorvi 
the  first,  and  that  they  had  seen  Him  pass  down 
the  river,  where  some  projecting  and  overhang- 
ing trees  hid  Him  at  once  from  view.  Though 
they  often  lost  sight  of  Him,  they  yet  followed 
Him  by  the  print  of  His  sandals  in  the  wet  sand 
of  the  shore;  and  at  length  came  in  view  of  Him, 
as  He  was  leaving  the  river  bank,  and  going 
towards  the  desert,  between  two  hills,  which  hid 


140          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OP  DAVID. 

Him  from  their  eyes.  But  one  of  the  young 
men  said  to  the  other,  while  both  were  burning 
vrith  wonder  and  love: 

"Let  us  not  fail  to  overtake  Him,  and  follow 
Him,  whithersoever  He  goeth;  for  with  Him 
must  be  the  well  of  life,  as  He  is  the  highly 
favored  of  God." 

So  they  went  on;  but  though  they  moved  on 
tapidly,  they  next  saw  Him  far  distant,  crossing 
the  arid  plain  that  stretches  south  towards 
Jericho  and  the  desert.  They  ran  very  swiftly, 
and  at  length  overtook  Him,  calling  "Master, 
good  master,  stay  for  us,  for  we  would  follow  and 
learn  of  thee !" 

He  stopped,  and  turned  upon  them  a  look  so 
pale,  and  marred  with  sadness  and  anguish,  that 
they  both  stood  still  and  gazed  on  Him  with 
amazement  at  such  a  change.  The  glory  of  his 
beauty  had  passed  away,  and  the  beaming  splen- 
dor which  shone  from  his  countenance  was 
wholly  gone.  The  expression  of  unutterable 
sorrow  that  remained,  pierced  them  to  the  heart. 
Lazarus,  who  had  been  so  long  his  bosom  friend, 
wept  aloud.  "Weep  not,  thou  shalt  see  me 
another  day,  my  friends,"  he  said.  "I  go  now  to 
the  wilderness  in  obedience  to  the  Spirit  which 
gliideth  me  thither.  Thou  'shalt,  after  a  time, 
behold  me  again.  It  is  expedient  that  I  go 
whither  I  go." 

"Nay,  but  we  will  go  with  thee,"  said  Lazarus, 
earnestly.  "If  thou  art  to  endure  evil,  we  will  be 
with  thee." 

'There  must  be  none  to  help.    There  must 


TIIE   PKINCE   OF   TliE    HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  l4l 

be  none  to  uphold,"  He  said  firmly,  but  sadly. 
"I  must  tread  the  wine-press  of  temptation 
alone!" 

He  then  left  them,  waving  his  hand  for  them  to 
go  back,  which  they  did  sorrowfully,  wondering 
\vhat  his  words  meant,  and  wherefore  it  was 
needful  for  Him  to  go  into  the  desert,  where  cer- 
tain mysterious  trials  seemed  to  wait  for  Him; 
and  they  wondered  most  of  all  at  the  change  in 
his  countenance,  which  from  being  lustrous  with 
celestial  light,  was  now,  said  Lazarus,  "marred 
more  than  the  sons  of  men."  From  time  to  time 
the  two  young  men  looked  backward  to  watch 
the  receding-  figure  of  the  Christ,  till  they  no 
longer  distinguished  Him  in  the  distance  of  the 
desert,  towards  which  He  steadfastly  kept  his 
face. 

The  two  friends  then  came  to  the  house  of 
Rabbi  Amos,  at  Gilgal,  the  same  night,  and  there 
Lazarus  made  known  to  us  what  I  had  just  re- 
lated. It  affected  us  all  deeply;  and  we  sat 
together  late  at  night  upon  the  porch  under  the 
fig  trees,  talking  of  Jesus,  and  the  things  that  had 
transpired  concerning  Him  that  day;  and  though 
ive  all  rejoiced  that  He  was  on  earth,  we  wept  to 
think  that  He  was  driven  by  some  destiny  un- 
known and  unfathomable  by  us,  to  dwell  alone  in 
the  wilderness. 

Now,  my  dear  father,  how  wonderful  is  all 
this!  That  a  great  Prophet  is  among  us  cannot 
be  denied.  The  sun  of  John  the  Baptizer's  fame 
dwindles  into  a  star  before  this  Son  of  God! 
That  He  will  draw  all  men  unto  Him,  even  into 


142          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OP  DAVID. 

the  wilderness,  if  He  takes  up  His  abode  there, 
cannot  be  questioned.  But  all  is  mystery,  awe, 
curiosity,  wonder,  and  excitement  just  now.  No 
one  has  settled  upon  any  opinion  as  to  what  will 
be  the  end  of  these  things.  Rabbi  Amos  advises 
all  persons  to  wait  patiently  the  issue,  for  if  God 
has  sent  a  Prophet,  He  must  have  a  mission 
which  in  due  time  He  will  come  forth  from  the 
wilderness  to  deliver.  In  my  next  I  may  be  able 
to  write  you  something  further  touching  the 
development  of  that  which  remains  so  much 
enveloped  in  mystery.  May  the  God  of  our 
father's  house  come  forth  indeed  from  the  Heav- 
ens, for  the  salvation  of  His  People. 

your  devoted  and  loving 

ADINA, 


LETTER    XL 

My  Dear  Father: — In  my  last  letter  to  you,  I 
spoke  of  our  return  from  Jordan,  to  Gilgal,  to 
the  country  house  in  the  wheat  fields  of  Peniel, 
where  Rabbi  Amos  sojourns  during  the  two 
weeks  of  harvest.  At  the  house  were  assembled, 
not  only  John,  the  cousin  of  Mary,  and  the  noble 
Lazarus,  but  also  Gamaliel,  and  Saul,  his  disciple, 
of  whom  I  have  before  spoken,  who  were  invited 
to  partake  of  my  uncle's  hospitality  for  the  night; 
besides,  the  court  of  the  dwelling  was  thronged 
with  strangers,  and  the  common  people,  who, 
being  far  from  their  homes,  and  without  food, 
had  freely  been  invited  to  lodgings  and  food  by 
the  hospitable  priest. 

As  we  sat  up  late,  conversing  upon  the  re- 
markable events  of  the  day,  an  observation  made 
by  John,  when  speaking  of  the  change  in  the  face 
of  Jesus,  that  "His  visage  was  marred  more  than 
the  sons  of  men,"  led  the  venerable  Gamaliel  to 
say  to  us : 


144          THE   PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

"Those  are  the  words  of  Esaias,  and  are  truly 
spoken  of  Messias,  when  He  shall  come." 

"Let  us  consult  Esaias,  then,  and  see  what 
further  he  hath  said,"  cried  Rabbi  Amos.  "Mary, 
bring  hither  the  roll  of  the  Prophets." 

My  cousin  Mary  returned,  and  placed  it  on  a 
small  stand  before  him,  for,  as  I  said  in  my  last, 
\ve  were  all  seated  in  the  porch,  where  the  even- 
ing breeze  was  cool.  A  lamp  then  being 
brought,  I  held  it  above  the  roll  of  parchment, 
while  my  uncle  found  the  part  of  the  Prophet  to 
which  the  words  belonged. 

"Read  aloud,  worthy  Rabbi,"  said  the  philoso- 
pher Gamaliel,  "we  will  all  listen;  for  though  I 
do  not  believe  this  young  man  who  was  to-day 
baptized  is  Messias  and  Christ,  who  is  to  restore 
all  things  to  us,  yet  I  am  prepared  to  reverence 
Him  as  a  Prophet." 

"And,"  answered  Rabbi  Amos,  "if  we  find  the 
prophecies  do  meet  in  him  which  we  look  'or  to 
meet  in  Messias  when  He  cometh,  wilt  thou  be- 
lieve, venerable  father?" 

"I  will  believe  and  reverently  adore,"  answered 
the  sage,  bowing  his  head  till  his  flowing  white 
beard  touched  his  knees. 

"Read,  Adina,  for  thy  eyes  are  young,"  said 
my  uncle;  and  obedient,  though  embarrassed  be- 
fore such  an  audience,  I  read  as  follows : 

"Behold,  my  servant  shall  deal  prudently,  he 
shall  be  exalted  and  extolled,  and  be  very  high. 
As  many  were  astonished  at  thee,  His  visage  was 
so  marred  more  than  any  man,  and  His  form 
more  than  the  sons  of  men," 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          145 

"How  completely,"  said  John,  "these  words 
described  his  appearance  on  the  verge  of  the 
desert." 

"But,"  said  Saul,  Gamaliel's  disciple,  "if  this  be 
prophesied  of  the  Christ,  then  we  are  to  have  a 
Christ  of  dishonor,  and  not  one  of  honor  and 
glory.  Read  one  part  that  you  have  omitted, 
and  you  will  see  that  there  are  words  that  import 
a  higher  condition  than  that  of  this  unknown 
person,  whom  John  the  Baptizer  himself  con- 
fessed he  did  not  know,  nor  ever  beheld  before." 

I  read  on,  as  follows:  "Behold  my  servant  shall 
be  exalted  and  extolled,  arid  be  very  high.  He 
shall  sprinkle  many  nations ;  the  kings  shall  shut 
their  mouths  at  Him.  He  shall  lift  up  his  hand 
to  the  Gentiles,  and  set  up  his  standard  to  the 
people.  Kings  shall  bow  down  to  Him  with 
their  faces  to  the  earth,  and  lick  up  the  dust  of 
his  feet!" 

"There!  such  is  our  Messias,"  exclaimed  Saul. 

"Yes,  it  is  a  Christ  of  power  and  dominion  who 
is  to  redeem  Israel,"  added  Gamaliel;  "not  an 
unknown  young  man,  scarcely  thirty  years  of 
age,  who  came  from  whence  no  one  knoweth, 
and  hath  gone  as  he  came.  As  for  the  Christ, 
we  shall  know  whence  He  cometh!" 

At  hearing  this  great  and  good  man  thus  dis- 
course, dear  father,  my  heart  sank  within  me;  for 
I  could  not  but  confess  that  these  prophecies  of 
honor  could  not  apply  to  the  humble  person 
John  had  baptized ;  for  Lazarus  had  already  told 
us  that  his  friend  Jesus  was  of  humble  birth,  a 
carpenter's  son,  and  his  mother  a  widow;  that  he 


146          THE  PRINCE  OF  TUB   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

had  known  him  from  boyhood,  but  known  him 
only  to  love  him.  I  now  looked  towards  him, 
but  I  took  courage  when  I  saw  that  the  words  of 
Gamaliel  did  not  in  the  least  dim  the  light  of  his 
faith  and  confidence,  which  sparkled  in  his  eyes, 
that  his  friend  Jesus  was  truly  Messias  of  God. 
But  my  eye  fell  on  what  follows,  and  as  I  read  it 
I  gained  more  confidence:  "He  hath  no  form  nor 
comeliness:  and  when  we  shall  see  him  there  is 
no  beauty  that  we  should  desire  him." 

"If  the  first  part  of  this  prophecy,"  said  Laz- 
arus, his  fine  eyes  lighting  up,  as  he  looked  at 
Saul,  "be  of  the  Christ,  as  you  have  confessed, 
then  is  tlais  last  of  him;  and  the  fact  that  you 
reject  him,  is  but  the  fulfilment  of  this  part  of  the 
prophecy." 

Hereupon  arose  a  very  warm  discussion  be- 
tween Gamaliel  and  Saul  on  one  side,  and  Rabbi 
Amos,  John,  and  Lazarus,  on  the  other,  the  for- 
mer contending  that  the  prophecies  referred  to 
two  distinct  Christs,  one  of  whom  was  to  be 
lowly  and  a  sufferer,  and  the  other  honorable 
and  a  conqueror;  while  the  latter  maintained, 
that  the  seemingly  opposite  predictions  referred 
to  but  one  Christ  in  two  different  periods  and 
circumstances  of  his  life. 

"But  let  this  be  as  it  may,"  said  John,  after  the 
arguments  on  both  sides  had  been  exhausted, 
"how  will  you,  O  Gamaliel,  and  you,  Saul,  get 
over  the  extraordinary  voice  and  fiery  appear- 
ance which  distinguished  the  baptism?" 

"That  must  have  been  a  phenomenon  of  na- 
ture, or  done  by  the  art  of  a  Babylonish  sorcerer, 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  147 

whom  I  saw  in  the  multitude."  answered  the 
philosopher. 

"Did  you  not  hear  the  words?"  asked  Rabbi 
Amos. 

"Yes,  Rabbi ;  nevertheless,  they  may  have  been 
thrown  into  the  air  from  the  lungs  of  the  sor- 
cerer; for  they  do  marvellous  things. 

"Would  you  suppose  that  a  sorcerer  would  be 
disposed  to  apply  the  sacred  words  of  the  Lord?" 
asked  John,  earnestly. 

"By  no  means,"  he  answered,  reverently. 

"If  Rabbi  Amos  will  allow  me,  I  will  show  you 
the  very  words  in  King  David's  prophecies  of 
Messias." 

All  looked  with  interest  on  John,  as  he  took 
from  his  mantle  a  roll  of  the  Psalms.  He  read 
as  follows,  looking  at  Gamaliel : 

"Why  do  the  rulers  take  counsel  together 
against  the  Lord,  and  against  his  anointed?  I 
will  declare  the  decree.  The  Lord  hath  said 
unto  me,  Thou  art  my  son ;  this  day  have  I  be- 
gotten thee.' " 

Upon  hearing  this  read,  Gamaliel  was 
thoughtful.  Rabbi  Amos  said:  "Of  a  truth,  we 
Jews  believe  these  words  were  to  be  spoken  to 
our  Christ  by  the  Lord  Jehovah.  Have  we  not 
heard  this  prophecy  fulfilled  this  very  day  in  our 
ears?" 

"  "It  is  extraordinary,"  answered  Gamaliel.  "I 
will  search  the  Scriptures  when  I  reach  Jerusa- 
lem, to  see  if  these  things  be  so." 

"And  the  light  in  the  form  of  a  dove!    Dost 


148          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

thou  find  an  explanation  for  that?"  asked  Rabbi 
Amos. 

"No,"  answered  he;  "and  I  will  withhold  all 
further  opinion  for  the  present." 

"It  becomes  you,  O  Gamaliel,"  said  Rabbi 
Amos,  "who  art  a  father  and  teacher  in  Israel,  to 
know  whether  these  things  be  so,  that  thou 
mayest  teach  thy  disciples." 

"But,"  said  Saul,  with  some  vehemence,  "listen 
while  I  read  some  prophecies  also."  And  he  un- 
rolled a  book  of  the  Prophets  and  read  these 
words : 

"Thou  Bethlehem  Ephratah,  though  thou  be 
little  among  the  thousands  of  Judah,  yet  out  of 
thee  shall  he  come  forth  unto  me  that  is  to  be  the 
Ruler  in  Israel,  whose  goings  forth  have  been 
ever  of  old,  from  everlasting."  "Now,  you  will 
confess,  Rabbi  Amos,"  he  added,  with  a  look  of 
triumph,  "that  this  refers  to  our  expected  Mes- 
sias." 

"Without  doubt,"  answered  my  uncle — 
"but"— 

"Wait,"  said  Saul,  "until  I  read  you  another 
prophecy:  'I  have  made  a  covenant  with  David, 
Thy  seed  will  I  establish  forever,  and  build  up 
thy  throne  to  all  generations.  His  seed  shall  en- 
dure forever,  and  his  throne  as  the  sun  before 
me.  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord,  that 
I  will  raise  unto  David  a  righteous  branch.' 
Now  you  will  all  admit,  brethren,  that  these 
prophecies  refer  to  Messias.  He  is,  therefore, 
come  of  the  lineage  of  David,  and  he  is  to  be 
born  in  Bethlehem.  Show  me  that  this  Jesus, 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  149 

the  Nazarene,  fulfils  both  conditions  in  his  own 
person,  and  I  will  prepare  to  believe  in  him." 

This  was  said  haughtily,  and  with  the  air  of 
one  who  cannot  be  answered. 

But  immediately  Lazarus  rose  to  his  feet  and 
said:  "Although  I  did  not  before  know  of  this 
prophecy,  that  Christ  was  to  be  born  in  Bethle- 
hem, yet  I  am  overjoyed  to  find  the  fact  respect- 
ing Jesus  fulfills  it.  He  was  born  in  Bethlehem 
of  Judah.  This  I  have  known  some  years; 
and—" 

Here,  while  my  heart  was  bounding  witn  joy, 
Gamiliel  said  sternly,  "I  thought  this  man  was 
born  in  Nazareth?" 

"He  has  lived,"  answered  Lazarus,  in  "Naza- 
reth from  childhood  only.  During  the  '  days 
•when  Caesar  Augustus  issued  a  decree  that  ail  the 
\vorld  should  be  taxed,  his  mother,  and  Joseph, 
her  husband,  went  up  to  the  city  of  David  to  be 
taxed,  which  is  Bethlehem,  and  there  Jesus  was 
born,  as  I  have  often  heard  from  her  lips.  But  it 
is  on  the  records  in  the  proper  office  of  the  Tem- 
ple, and  can  be  referred  to  there." 

"Admitting,  then,  that  he  was  born  in  Bethle- 
hem," said  Saul,  who  appeared  to  be  much  given 
to  argument,  "you  have  to  prove  his  lineage  from 
David's  line." 

"Wherefore  did  his  parents  go  to  Bethlehem, 
David's  city,  unless  they  were  of  the  royal  line?" 
asked  Rabbi  Amos ;  "for  none  went  to  any  other 
city  to  be  taxed  than  that  of  their  own  family. 
The  fact  that  they  went  there  is  strong  evidence 
that  they  were  of  David's  house. 


150  THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

"Everyone  born  in  the  city  of  David,"  re- 
marked Gamaliel,  "is  not  of  necessity  of  David's 
house;  but  it  is  surprising  if  this  Jesus  was  born 
in  Bethlehem." 

"But  may  not  his  lineage  be  ascertained  with- 
out a  doubt  from  the  records  of  the  tribes,  and 
of  their  families,  kept  by  the  command  of  the 
law  in  the  Temple?"  I  asked  of  my  uncle. 

"Without  question.  These  books  of  the  gen- 
erations of  our  people  are  to  be  relied  on,"  he 
answered. 

"In  fact,"  said  Gamaliel,  "they  are  kept  with 
the  greatest  accuvacy,  and  so  ordained  by  God, 
for  the  very  reason  that  wh«n  Messias  cometh 
we  may  know  whether  he  who  claims  to  be  such 
be  of  the  house  of  David  or  no.  I  will  examine) 
the  book  of  the  Generations,  and  see  if  his 
mother  and  father  come  of  the  stock  and  seed  of 
David." 

"And  if  you  find  that  they  do,"  asked  John, 
with  emotion,  "can  you  doubt  any  longer 
whether  Jesus  be  the  Christ.  Will  not  the  fact 
of  his  being  born  in  Bethlehem,  and  of  the  line- 
age of  David,  not  to  speak  of  the  witness  of 
God's  own  audible  voice,  heard  by  our  ears  this 
day — will  not  these  facts  lead  you  to  believe  that 
he  is  the  Christ?" 

"They  will  prevent  me  from  actually  rejecting 
him,"  answered  the  cold  philosopher.  "But 
every  child  born  in  Betblehem,  and  of  the  house 
of  D*wid,  and  there  are  many  in  Judah,  fulfills, 
so  far,  the  conditions  of  these  two  prophecies; 
they  are  not,  therefore,  Messias." 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  151 

"What  more  can  you  ask  for?"  asked  Mary, 
with  feeling,  for  she  as  strongly  believed  that 
Jesus  was  the  Christ  as  I  did,  and  she  was  pained 
by  so  many  doubts,  and  such  subtlety  of  objec- 
tion from  those  who  were  so  learned  in  the 
Phrophets.  But  men  reason  and  reason,  while 
women  simply  believe. 

"Miracles?"  answered  the  disciple  of  Gamaliel, 
and  glancing  at  the  face  of  his  master 
inquiringly. 

''Yes,  miracles,"  answered  the  sage.  "The 
Messiah  is  to  heal  the  sick  by  a  word,  restore 
sight  to  the  blind,  cast  out  devils,  and  raise  even 
the  dead."  And  here  he  desired  Saul  to  read  the 
particular  prophecy  giving  the  power  of  miracles 
to  the  Christ. 

"If  he  restore  the  blind  and  raise  the  dead,  I 
will  doubt  no  longer,"  answered  Saul. 

There  was,  at  this  moment,  an  interruption 
caused  by  a  noisy  dispute  in  the  court  among 
some  of  John  the  Baptist's  disciples,  some  of 
whom  were  disposed  to  acknowledge  fully  the 
superiority  of  Jesus;  while  others,  still  indulging 
the  full  fervor  of  their  first  conversion,  stoutly 
contended  for  the  transcendent  greatness  of  him 
whom  they  regarded  as  their  own  Prophet. 
Rabbi  Amos,  as  host,  went  out  to  put  an  end  to 
these  disputings,  when  Gamaliel  retired  to  his 
chamber,  and  the  conversation  was  not  renewed. 

Thus,  you  see,  my  dear  father,  that  even  on 
the  very  day  of  these  events  by  eye-witnesses 
themselves,  there  is  much  difference  of  opinion 
concerning  who  Jesus  is;  and,  therefore,  I  do  not 


1§2  THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

expect  you,  who  are  so  remote  from  the  scene, 
and  who  know  them  only  by  report,  to  believe  all 
at  once,  as  I  myself  do.  Will  you  write  me,  and 
tell  me  what  view  you  take  of  all  this  subject,  and 
what  can  be  brought  from  the  Scriptures  to 
prove  that  Messias  has  not  yet  come? 

The  next  morning,  early,  the  people  departed 
from  the  court  where  they  had  lodged;  and  when 
the  sun  was  about  an  hour  high,  we  also  took 
saddle  and  rode  to  Jericho,  where  we  passed  the 
day  with  Miriam,  the  daughter  of  Joel,  who  was 
cousin  to  my  mother.  W,e  found  them  in  very 
great  affliction,  and  they  could  not  be  comforted 
by  any  consolations  which  we  could  administer. 
It  seems  thut  her  daughter  Marah,  or  Mary,  as 
they  call  her,  had  been  so  unfortunate,  from  her 
extraordinary  beauty,  as  to  attract  the  notice  of 
yEmilius  Lepldus,  the  Prefect  of  the  Legion,  who 
did  honorably,  though  a  Roman,  and  one  of  our 
conquerors,  ask  her  in  marriage  of  her  parents. 
But  they,  being  Hebrews,  could  not  consent  to 
such  a  union  with  a  Gentile,  and  kept  her  with 
great  strictness,  so  that  he  might  never  behold 
her  again.  But  Marah,  being  very  much 
devoted  to  the  love  of  the  noble  Roman,  and  he 
being  also  attached  to  her,  they  met  by  strata- 
gem, and  she  fled  with  him  to  the  town  of  Mag- 
dala,  where  he  has  a  villa.  She  is,  therefore,  lost 
forever,  to  the  faith  of  her  fathers,  by  this  simple 
flight  with  a  Gentile  lover,  who,  though  he 
marry  her  according  to  the  Roman  laws,  doth 
not  make  her  an  honorable  wife  according  to  our 
own.  This  event  was  the  cause  of  our  finding 


THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          153 

the  house  of  Miriam  a  house  of  mourning.  It 
has  produced  great  indignation  among  the  Jews 
against  the  Romans.  Alary  was,  I  am  told,  the 
most  beautiful  maiden  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin, 
with  golden  brown  hair  that  flowed  to  her  very 
feet,  and  she  was  beloved  by  all  who  knew  her. 
Thus  am  I  disappointed  in  seeing  her,  as  I  hoped 
to  have  done;  and  the  pearl  armlet  which  you 
wished  me  to  bestow  upon  her,  I  still  retain  in 
my  possession,  a  sorrowful  memorial  of  the  loved 
and  lost. 

Lazarus  has  returned  to  Bethany,  where  his  oc- 
cupation demands  his  attendance;  but  his  friend 
John  remained  with  us,  having  agreed,  with  Laz- 
arus, that  he  would  go  into  the  desert  and  not 
give  up  his  search  for  the  Divine  Prophet,  Jesus, 
until  he  had  found  him;  for  both  young  men  feel 
as  sad  as  if  they  had  lost  a  beloved  and  honored 
brother.  Your  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER  XII. 

My  Dear  Father: — How  shall  I  thank  you  for 
your  forbearance  with  me,  and  your  kind 
answers  to  all  my  letters,  filled,  as  they  are,  with 
so  many  inquiries  and  opinions,  which  must  sur- 
prise, and  perhaps,  displease  you.  You  say  that 
you  have  read  all  that  I  have  written  with  impar- 
tiality, and  that  you  do  not  marvel  that  "one 
whom  you  are  pleased  to  call  so  imaginative  and 
full  of  sensibility  as  myself,  should  be  affected  by 
what  has  passed  under  my  observation  in  Judea." 
You  nevertheless  refuse,  on  your  part,  my  dear 
father,  to  listen,  with  the  least  proximation  to 
belief,  to  the  extraordinary  recital  I  have  given 
you.  You  are  pleased  to  question  the  reality  of 
the  voice  at  Jordan,  and  the  presence  of  the  dove 
of  fire,  and  to  refer  it,  as  many  others  try  to  do 
who  actually  witnessed  it,  to  an  illusion  of  the 
senses.  You  are  willing  to  admit  that  Jesus  may 
be  born  at  Bethlehem,  for  many  whom  you  know 
"who  are  not  prophets,  neither  sons  of  prophets, 


THE   PHINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  155 

were  born  there."  You  are  willing  to  admit  that 
he  "may  be  of  the  lineage  of  David,  for  David's 
descendants  are  as  numerous  as  they  are  poor 
and  obscure,  yet  they  are  not  Messias,  nor  pre- 
tend to  be  Christ's."  You  are  content  with 
doubting  the  accuracy  of  the  memory  of  the 
mother  of  Lazarus,  as  to  the  scene  in  the  Temple, 
though  acknowledging  you  have  often  seen  both 
Simeon  and  Anna  in  the  Temple,  and  about  the 
time  stated  by  her.  But  your  main  objection  to 
receiving  John's  evidence  that  this  is  the  Christ, 
is,  ''that  he  is  poor,  of  humble  station,  destitute 
of  influence,  received  baptism  of  a  man,  when  the 
Messias  was  to  be  the  baptized  of  God."  "Who," 
you  ask,  "of  the  wise  and  the  venerated,  and  the 
learned,  and  the  aged,  with  years  and  experience; 
who  of  the  doctors,  and  lawyers,  and  priests; 
who  of  the  Scribes,  and  who  of  the  Pharisees, 
and  of  the  great  men  of  Israel,  are  to  unite  in 
acknowledging  as  Him  of  whom  Moses  and  the 
Prophets  did  write,  as  the  central  sun,  around 
which  all  the  dazzling  prophecies  of  Esaias 
revolve;  as  the  end  and  crown  of  the  law;  as  the 
Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah ;  as  the  Shiloh  of  the 
nations;  as  the  Wonderful,  the  Counsellor,  the 
mighty  God  and  the  Prince  of  Peace;  as  the 
glory  of  Israel,  and  the  Joy  of  the  whole  Earth — 
an  obscure  young  man,  of  thirty,  unlearned  in  let- 
ters, the  son  of  a  carpenter,  a  citizen  of  Nazareth, 
a  city  proverbially  mean,  without  name,  charac- 
ter, power,  rank,  wealth,  influence,  or  talents, 
and  the  last  that  was  heard  of  whom  was, 
that  he  had  fled  into  the  desert."  You  add,  dear 


156          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

father,  that  this  mere  enumeration  of  what  the 
true  Christ  ought  to  be,  with  the  enumeration  of 
what  is  wanting  in  this  man,  should  be  sufficient 
to  convince  rne  that  I  have  given  my  sympathies 
and  faith  to  one  who  has  no  claim  to  them.  You 
say,  further,  "that  you  do  not  call  my  Messias  an 
imposter,  because,  so  far  as  you  can  learn,  he  has 
professed  nothing,  declared  nothing,  respecting 
himself.  In  silence  he  appeared,  and  in  silence 
disappeared,  none  knowing  whence  or  whither;" 
and  you  close  your  review  of  my  history  by  say- 
ing, "that  you  shall  wait  for  further  development 
before  you  can  give  the  subject  your  serious  con- 
sideration." 

In  your  next  letter,  where  you  again  allude  to 
the  theme,  you  say,  that  if  this  prophet  reap- 
pears, and  from  his  own  lips  declares  himself  sent 
from  God,  and  by  an  appeal  to  undisputed 
miracles,  gives  proof  of  his  divine  mission,  de- 
.  claring  himself  to  be  the  Christ,  you  will  then 
believe  in  Him,  provided  the  whole  of  the  proph- 
k  ecies  can  be  shown  to  meet  in  his  person. 

On  this  ground,  I  am  willing  that  the  issue 
should  be  met,  dearest  father;  and  you  add,  with 
your  usual  candor,  "that  you  will  not  hesitate  to 
acknowledge  as  the  Christ  a  man  who  fulfills  all 
prophecy  in  his  own  person,  though  he  come  in 
a  state  and  condition  contrary  to  your  precon- 
ceived notions  of  the  character  of  the  Messias; 
for  that  it  would  be  safer  for  you  to  question  the 
correctness  of  your  own  interpretation  of  the 
Messiac  prophecies  hitherto,  than  the  identity  of 
one,  in  whom,  without  question,  do  meet  all  the 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID.          157 

golden  threads  of  the  predictions  relating  to  the 
Christ."  Here  I  am  content,  my  dear  father,  to 
let  it  remain,  being  fully  persuaded  that  though 
this  humble  young  man,  Jesus,  hath  come  lowly 
and  obscure,  yet  He  will  prove  himself  to  the 
world  that  He  is  the  true  Messias,  Christ  of  God. 

Now,  my  dear  father,  let  me  resume  the  inter- 
esting subject,  of  which  my  letters  have  been  so 
full ;  and,  moreover,  as  you  have  desired  me  still 
to  keep  you  informed  of  all  that  transpires  touch- 
ing Jesus  of  Nazareth,  and  as  no  theme  upon 
which  I  can  write  is  so  pleasing  to  me,  I  will  nar- 
rate all  that  I  have  heard  since  I  last  wrote  to 
you. 

It  is  now  eight  weeks  since  our  return  from 
Gilgal.  For  five  weeks  after  we  reached  Jerusa- 
lem, we  heard  nothing  of  Jesus  until  John  reap- 
peared. He  and  Lazarus  came  into  the  city 
together,  and  to  the  house  of  Rabbi  Amos.  Our 
first  inquiry  was: 

''Have  you  seen  him?  Have  you  heard  any- 
thing from  him?" 

"John  has  seen  him,"  answered  Lazarus, 
seriously;  "ask  him  and  he  will  tell  you  all." 

We  looked  at  John,  who  sat  sad  and  pensive, 
as  if  he  were  dwelling  in  his  mind  upon  some 
painful,  yet  tender  sorrow.  The  eyes  of  my 
cousin  Mary,  which  always  caught  their  lustre 
from  his,  were  shaded  with  an  inquiring  look  of 
sympathy  and  solicitude. 

"You  are  not  well,  I  fear,"  she  said,  placing' 
her  fair  hand  upon  his  white  brow,  and  putting: 


158          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

back  the  hair  from  his  temples.  "You  have  been 
long  away,  and  are  weary  and  ill." 

"Weary,  Mary?  I  shall  never  complain  of 
weariness  again,  after  what  I  have  beheld." 

"What  have  you  seen?"  I  asked. 

"Jesus  in  the  desert;  and  when  I  remember 
him  there,  I  shall  forget  to  smile  more." 

"You  found  him,  then?"  I  eagerly  asked. 

"Yes,  after  days  of  painful  search.  I  found 
him  in  the  very  centre  of  the  de'sert  of  Ashes, 
where  foot  of  man  had  never  trod  before.  I  saw 
him  upon  his  knees,  and  heard  his  voice  in 
prayer.  I  laid  down  the  sack  of  bread  and  fishes, 
and  the  skin  of  water  I  had  brought  with  me  to 
succor  him,  and  with  awe  drew  near  where  He 
stood." 

"How  did  you  find  him  there?"  I  asked,  with 
that  painful  interest  which  exacts  all  details. 

"By  his  footsteps  in  the  sand  and  ashes.  I 
•saw  where  He  sat  down  to  rest,  and  where  two 
nights  he  reposed  upon  the  ground.  I  expected 
to  find  him  perished,  but  each  day  I  discovered 
his  progressing  footsteps,  and  followed  them. 
As  I  now  drew  near  him,  I  heard  him  groan  in 
spirit,  and  He  seemed  to  be  borne  down  to  the 
earth  by  some  mortal  agony.  He  seemed  to  be 
talking  to  some  invisible  evil  beings  who  assailed 
him. 

"Master,  good  Master,  I  said,  I  have  brought 
thee  food  and  water.  Pardon  me  if  I  have 
intruded  upon  thy  awful  loneliness,  which  is 
sacred  to  some  deep  grief;  but  I  weep  with  thee 
for  thy  woes,  and  in  all  thy  afflictions  I  am 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OP   DAVID.  159 

afflicted.  Eat,  that  them  mayest  have  strength 
to  endure  thy  mysterious  sufferings. 

"He  turned  his  pale  countenance  full  upon  me> 
and  extended  towards  me  his  emaciated  hands, 
while  he  smiled  faintly,  and  blessed  me  and  said: 

"  'Son,  thou  art  very  dear  to  me.  Thou  shalt 
one  day  be  afflicted  for  me,  but  not  now,  and 
understand  wherefore  I  am  now  a  sufferer  in  the 
desert.' 

"Let  me  remain  with  thee,  Divine  Messias,  I 
said. 

''  Thou  believest,  then,  that  I  am  He?'  he 
answered,  regarding  me  with  love. 

"I  replied  by  casting  myself  at  his  desert- 
parched  feet,  and  bathing  them  with  my  tears. 
He  raised  me,  and  said,  'Go  thy  way  presently. 
When  the  time  of  my  fasting  and  temptation  is 
past,  I  will  see  thee  again/ 

"Nay,  I  will  not  leave  thee,  I  asserted. 

"  'If  thou  lovest  me,  John,  thou  wilt  obey  me/ 
he  answered,  with  a  tone  of  gentle  reproof. 

"But  thou  wilt  first  eat  of  the  bread  I  have 
brought,  and  drink  of  the  water,  I  entreated. 

'"'  'Thou  knowest  not  what  temptation  thou  art 
offering  to  me/  he  replied,  sadly.  'Thou  hast 
not  enough  for  thine  own  needs.  Go,  and  leave 
me  to  gain  the  victory  over  Satan,  for  which  I 
was  led  by  the  Spirit  hither!' 

"I  once  more  cast  myself  at  his  feet,  and  He 
lifted  me  up,  kissed  me,  and  sent  me  away.  You 
would  not  have  known  him.  Worn  to  a  skele- 
ton by  long  abstinence,  weak  through  suffering, 
He  looked  but  the  shadow  of  himself.  He  could 


160  THE    PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE    OF   DAVID. 

not  have  lived  if  there  had  not  been  a  divine 
power  within  to  sustain  him.  His  existence  so 
long,  for  He  had  been  at  the  desert  five  weeks 
without  food,  when  I  found  him,  was  a  miracle, 
proving  the  power  of  God  to  be  in  him!" 

''For  what  mighty  work  among  men  is  God 
preparing  him?"  said  Rabbi  Amos,  with  emotion. 
"Surely  He  is  a  Prophet  come  from  God." 

"Think  you  He  is  still  alive?"  I  asked,  with 
anxious  fears. 

*  "Yes,"  answered  John;  "I  am  come  to  tell  you 
He  was  sustained  through  all,  and  after  forty 
days  He  came  forth  from  the  wilderness,  and 
suddenly  presented  himself  on  the  banks  of  Jor- 
dan, among  John's  disciples.  I  was  standing 
near  John,  discoursing  of  the  Christ,  and  mar- 
velling when  his  exile  to  the  desert  would  ter- 
minate, when  the  Prophet,  lifting  up  his  eyes, 
cried  with  a  loud  voice  full  of  joy: 

"  'Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  upon  whom  the 
Spirit  descended !  He  hath  come  forth  from  the 
furance,  like  gold  seven  times  tried  in  the  fire! 
He  it  is  who  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world.' 

"I  turned,  and  beheld  Jesus  advancing.  He 
was  pale,  and  wore  an  expression  of  gentle,  un- 
complaining suffering,  on  his  benign  counte- 
nance. His  calm,  chastened,  dignified  aspect,  the 
serene  composure  and  peace  of  his  looks,  awed 
me,  while  they  caused  me  to  love  him.  I 
hastened  to  meet  him,  and  was  kneeling  in  joy 
at  his  feet,  when  He  embraced  me  as  a  brother, 
and  said,  'Faithful,  and  full  of  love,  wilt  thou  fol- 
low me?' 


THE  PRINCE   OP  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID.  1611 

'•'Whithersoever  thou  goest,  I  answered. 
'Where  dwellest  thou,  Divine  Master?'  then 
asked  one  of  John's  disciples,  Andrew  by  name, 
who  was  with  me. 

"  'Come  and  see/  he  answered;  and  we  went 
after  him  with  joy  unutterable,  that  we  had  at 
length  found  him." 

"What  passed  between  him  an3  the  Baptizer," 
asked  Rabbi  Amos,  "at  the  river  side,  on  this 
meeting?" 

"Not  a  word.  They  met  and  parted  like 
strangers,  John  going  away  across  Jordan  into 
the  wilderness,  as  Jesus  entered  the  village  of 
Bethabara;  and,  approaching  the  house  of  a 
widow,  where  he  abode,  He  went  in,  and  .we  fol- 
lowed him,  and  took  up  our  abode  with  him. 
Oh,  how  shall  I  be  able  to  make  known  by 
words,"  added  John,  "the  sweet  expression  of 
his  discourse?  In  one  day,  in  his  presence,  I 
grew  wise;  his  words  filled  the  soul  like  new 
wine,  and  made  the  heart  glad.  The  next  day 
He  wished  to  go  into  Galilee,  and  so  to  Nazareth, 
where  his  mother  dwelleth;  and,  as  I  had  made 
up  my  mind  to  follow  him  as  his  disciple  hence- 
forth, I  have  only  come  hither  to  make  known 
my  purpose  to  Mary,  to  arrange  my  affairs  in  the 
city.  To-morrow  I  leave  again,  to  join  this,  my 
dear  Lord,  at  Cana  of  Galilee" 

"Oh.  happy,  and  to  be  envied,  friend  and 
brother,"  said  Lazarus.  "How  gladly  would  I 
go  also,  and  be  one  of  his  disciples!  but  the  care 
of  my  mother  and  sisters  cometh  upon  me,  and  I 
Kiust  deny  myself  the  happiness  of  being  ever 


162          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   H3USE   OF  DAVID. 

near  this  divine  man,  and  listening  to  the  heav- 
enly wisdom  that  flows  from  his  lips.  How  blind 
I  have  been,  not  to  have  discovered,  under  his 
gentle  and  loving  character,  and  unobstrtisive 
wisdom,  the  Messias.  Truly,  he  was  among  us, 
and  we  knew  him  not." 

"Canst  thou  divine  at  all  his  purpose?"  asked 
Rabbi  Amos  of  John,  "whether  he  intends  to 
found  a  school  of  wisdom,  to  preach  like  the 
prophets,  to  reign  like  David,  or  to  conquer  like 
his  warrior  namesake,  Joshua!" 

"I  know  not,  save  that  he  said  He  came  to 
redeem  that  which  was  lost,  and  to  establish  a 
kingdom  that  shall  have  no  end!" 

Upon  hearing  this,  all  our  hearts  bounded  with 
hope  and  confidence  in  him,  and  we  altogether 
burst  forth  into  a  voice  of  thanksgiving,  and  sang 
this  hymn  of  praise : 

"  O  sing  unto  the  Lord  a  new  song :  for  he  hath  done  mar- 
vellous things :  his  right  hand  and  his  holy  arm  hath  gotten  the 
victory. 

"The  Lord  hath  made  known  his  salvation:  his  righteous- 
ness hath  He  openly  shewed  in  the  sight  of  the  heathen. 

"  He  hath  remembered  his  mercy  and  his  truth  towards  the 
house  of  Israel :  all  the  ends  of  '.he  earth  have  seen  the  salva- 
1  tion  of  our  God. 

"  Make  a  joyful  noise  unto  the  Lord,  all  the  earth :  make  a 
loud  noise,  and  rejoice,  and  sing  his  praise. 

"Sing  unto  the  Lord  with  the  harp:  with  the  harp  and  the 
voice  of  a  psalm. 

"  With  trumpets  and  sound  of  cornet  make  a  joyful  noise 
before  the  Lord,  the  King. 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  168 

"  Let  the  sea  roar,  and  the  fullness  thereof:  the  world,  and 
they  that  dwell  therein. 

"  Let  the  floods  clap  their  hands :  let  the  hills  be  joyful  to- 
gether. 

"  Before  the  Lord;  for  He  cometh  to  judge  the  earth:  with 
righteousness  shall  He  judge  the  world,  and  the  people  with 
equity." 

There  was  this  morning  no  little  excitement 
produced  among  the  Chief  Priests  by  a  formal 
inquiry  sent  by  Pilate  to  Caiaphas,  the  High 
Priest,  asking  whether  this  new  prophet  was  to 
be  acknowledged  by  them  as  their  Messiah,  "for 
if  he  is  to  be,  it  will  be  my  duty,"  said  the  Gov- 
ernor, "to  place  him  under  arrest,  inasmuch  as 
we  understand  the  Jewish  Messias  is  to  declare 
himself  king!"  Upon  this,  there  was  a  tumultu- 
ous assembling  together  of  the  Priests  in  the 
porch  of  the  Temple,  and  with  many  invectives, 
they  agreed  to  send  answer  to  Pilate  that  they 
did  not  acknowledge  Jesus  of  Nazareth  to  be  the 
Christ.  They  were  led  to  this  the  more  urgently, 
inasmuch  as  they  feared  an  arrest  of  Jesus  would 
give  the  Romans  occasion  for  arresting  other 
Jews,  and  so  bring  on  the  nation  great  troubles; 
just  as,  a  few  years  ago,  when  a  certain  impostor 
rose  up  and  called  himself  the  Christ,  the 
Romans  were  not  satisfied  with  taking  and 
destroying  him,  but  they  punished  with  -fines 
every  city  in  Judah.  Therefore,  the  Priests  both 
denied  to  the  Procurator  any  knowledge  of  Jesus, 
and  entreated  him  not  to  pay  any  attention  to 
him,  till,  indeed,  he  should  find  that  he  openly 
iook  the  lead  of  armed  men.  What  Pilate  will 


164         THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

conclude  to  do,  I  know  not.  Rabbi  Amos  in- 
formed us  that  the  Procurator  had  got  some 
news  by  a  courier  that  morning,  that  Jesus,  on 
his  way  to  Cana,  had  been  followed  by  full  a 
thousand  people,  who,  having  recognized  him  as 
having  seen  him  baptized  of  John  in  Jordan, 
hailec1  him  as  the  Christ. 

Thus,  you  see,  my  dear  father,  that  this  divine 
person  is  already  taking  hold  of  the  hearts  of  the 
people,  and  arousing  the  jealousy  of  our  enemies. 
Be  assured  that  the  day  will  come  when  He  will 
lift  up  his  standard  to  the  Gentiles,  and  draw  all 
men  unto  Him.  The  dvelopments  of  his  power 
are  daily  taking  place;  and  although  He  has  yet 
performed  no  such  miracle  as  would  be  deemed 
by  you  a  test  of  his  divine  mission,  yet  I  have  no 
doubt  that  in  due  time  He  will  give  this  proof, 
and  all  other  needful  manifestations,  that  He  is 
the  Christ  of  God. 

lYour  loving 

ADINA. 


LETTER  XIII. 

My  Dear  Father: — I  have  received  your  last 
letter  by  the  Cairo  merchant,  Heber,  the  son  of 
Malaohial,  and  having  read  it  to  Rabbi  Amos, 
he  said,  after  careful  reflection  thereupon,  that  he 
could  not  agree  with  you  in  your  opinion  touch- 
ing the  undimmed  glory  of  Messiah,  viz. :  "that 
he  is  to  come  as  a  King,  and  Mighty  Leader  of 
Hosts,  and  reign  a»d  prosper,  and  rule  the  earth, 
King  of  the  kings  of  the  earth."  He  desires  me 
to  ask  you  what  is  meant  by  "Messias  being  a 
man  of  sorrows  and  acquainted  with  grief,"  as 
prophesied  of  him;  and  how  you  interpret,  dear 
father,  other  than  as  referring  to  a  violent  end, 
the  words  of  the  wise  Daniel,  "And  after  three- 
score and  two  weeks  shall  Messiah  be  cut  off, 
but  not  for  himself?"  Uncle  also  desires  me  to 
ask  you  to  examine  into  the  time  mamed  by 
Daniel,  when  Messiah,  the  Prince,  is  to  come, 
and  take  note  that  we  live  in  the  day  of  the  close 
of  the  threescore  and  two  weeks,  whereof  the 


166         THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

prophet  writeth  and  saith,  "Know,  therefore,  and 
understand,  that  from  the  going  forth  of  the 
commandment  to  restore  and  to  build  Jerusalem 
unto  Messiah  the  Prince,  shall  be  seven  weeks 
and  threescore  and  two  weeks."  Rabbi  Amos 
says,  the  time  for  the  appearing  of  Christ  is 
come,  as  all  must  confess  who  read  the  Prophets ; 
and  the  only  reason  Jesus  is  not  believed  to  be 
he,  is  that  he  comes  in  poverty  and  humility, 
fasting  and  suffering.  But,  my  dear  father,  may 
it  not  be  ordained  that  He  shall  come  in  lowli- 
ness and  end  in  power?  Oh,  that  you  could  have 
the  faith  in  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  that  He  is 
Messias,  that  I  have,  dearest  and  most  honored 
father!  Since  I  last  wrote  you,  my  faith  has 
been  confirmed  by  the  testimony,  which  in  one 
of  your  letters  you  demanded.  You  said,  "let 
me  hear  that  he  has  done  an  authentic  miracle  in 
attestation  of  the  divinity  of  his  mission,  such  a 
miracle  as  was  prophesied  Messias  shall  do,  as 
healing  the  sick  by  a  word,  restoring  the  blind 
to  sight,  and  raising  the  dead,  and  I  will  prepare 
to  believe  in  him." 

A  miracle  He  has  performed,  dear  father,  and 
one,  the  genuineness  of  which  is  not  disputed 
by  anyone.  I  can  give  you  the  particulars  best 
by  extracting  from  a  letter  written  by  John  to 
Mary,  a  few  days  after  his  departure  to  join  Jesus 
at  Nazareth :  for  John  has  joined  himself  to  him, 
and  become  his  disciple. 

"Upon  reaching  Nazareth,"  says  the  letter,  "I 
was  guided  to  the  humble  dwelling  occupied  by 
the  mother  of  Jesus,  by  a  large  concourse  of 


THE  PRINCE   OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          167 

people  gathered  aoout  it,  of  whom  inquiring,  I 
learned  that  it  was  to  see  the  new  Prophet  they 
had  assembled.  'What  new  prophet?'  I  asked, 
\vishing  to  know  what  the  multitude  thought  of 
Jesus. 

"  The  One  John  of  the  wilderness  foretold,' 
answered  one. 

"  They  say  he  is  Messias/  replied  another. 

"  'He  is  the  Christ/  boldly  asserted  the  third. 

"Hereupon,  a  Levite,  standing  by,  said  scorn-1 
fully,  'Does  Christ  come  out  of  Galilee?  You 
read  the  prophets  to  little  purpose,  if  you  see 
therein  any  Christ  prophesied  to  come  out  of 
Nazareth  of  Galilee.'  Hereupon,  seeing  the 
faith  of  many  staggered,  I  said,  'Brethren,  Christ 
is  truly  of  Bethlehem;  and  verily  Jesus,  though 
he  dwelleth  in  this  place,  was  born  in  Bethle- 
hem.' Thou  canst  not  prove  it,  man,'  said  the 
Levite,  angrily.  The  stranger  speaketh  truly,' 
spoke  up  both  an  old  man  and  a  gray-haired 
woman  in  the  crowd;  'we  know  that  he  was  not 
born  here,  and  that  when  his  parents  moved  here, 
when  he  was  an  infant,  they  then  said  he  was 
born  in  Bethlehem.  We  all  remember  this  well/ 

"Hereupon,  the  Levite,  seeing  that  he  had  not 
the  people  with  him,  passed  on  his  way,  while  I 
went  to  the  door  of  the  house  where  Jesus  dwelt 
with  is  mother.  There  were  two  doors,  one  of 
which  led  into  a  work-shop,  where  I  noticed  the 
bench  and  tools  of  the  occupation  at  which  he 
toiled  to  support  himself  and  his  mother. 
This  sight  made  me  half  question  whether  lie 
who  was  an  humble  artisan,  whose  tools  and 


158          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

shop  I  saw  before  me,  could  in  truth  be  the 
Christ  of  God,  the  Prince  Messias  whom  all  the 
patriarchs  and  prophets  looked  forward  to  with 
the  eye  of  faith,  desiring  to  see  his  day!  and  it 
required  the  recalling  of  the  wonderful  scenes  of 
his  baptism,  the  holy  dove  and  voice  of  God,  and 
his  miraculous  preservation  in  the  wilderness,  to 
revive  my  assurance;  but  when,  as  I  entered  the 
dwelling,  I  saw  him  standing,  teaching  those 
who  hung  on  his  lips,  and  listened  to  his  calm 
voice,  and  heard  the  sublime  wisdom  of  his  in- 
structions, beheld  the  dignity  of  his  aspect,  and 
the  heavenly  benignity  of  his  manner,  I  forgot 
the  carpenter,  I  forgot  the  man,  and  seemed  to 
behold  in  Him  only  Messiah  the  Prince,  the  Son 
of  God. 

"Upon  beholding  me,  he  extended  his  hand, 
and  received  me  graciously,  and  said,  pointing  to 
five  men  who  stood  near  him,  regarding  him 
with  mingled  love  and  reverence,  'These  are  thy 
brethren,  who  have  also  come  out  of  the  world  to 
follow  me/ 

"Of  these,  one  was  Andrew,  who  was.  as  well 
as  myself,  John's  disciple,  and  we  were  talking 
with  him  when  Jesus  came  forth  out  of  the  wil- 
derness. Another  was  Andrew's  brother,  whose 
name  is  Simon,  who,  hearing  his  brother  speak  of 
Jesus  as  the  Christ,  had  gone  with  him  to  see 
him;  and  had  no  sooner  beheld  him  than  he 
joined  himself  to  him;  and  Jesus,  from  the  firm- 
ness and  immovable  zeal  of  his  character,  which 
He  seemed  to  understand,  called  him  also  Peter, 
or  Stone.  The  fourth  disciple  was  of  Bethsaida, 


THE   PRINCE   OP  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  169 

the  city  of  Andrew  and  Peter.  His  name  was 
Philip,  and  he  followed  Jesus  from  having  been 
prepared  by  John  the  Baptist  to  receive  him. 
He  was,  however,  so  overjoyed  at  finding  the 
Christ,  that  he  ran  to  the  house  of  his  brother 
Nathaniel,  and  finding  him  in  his  garden,  be- 
neath a  fig  tree,  at  prayer,  exclaimed,  'We  have 
found  Him  of  whom  Moses  in  the  law  and  the 
prophets  did  write,  the  Messias  of  God!'  'Where 
is  He,  that  I  may  behold  Him?'  asked  his 
brother,  rising.  'It  is  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  son 
of  Joseph,'  Philip  answered.  Upon  hearing  this 
answer,  the  countenance  of  Nathaniel  fell,  and  he 
replied,  'Can  there  any  good  thing  come  out  of 
Nazareth?'  'Come  thou,  and  see  for  thyself/ 
answered  Philip.  Nathaniel  then  went  with  him 
where  Jesus  was.  When  Jesus  saw  him  ap- 
proaching, he  said  to  those  about  him,  'Behold 
an  Israelite,  indeed,  in  whom  there  is  no  guile!' 
'Whence  knowest  thou  me?'  asked  Nathaniel, 
with  surprise,  for  he  had  heard  the  words  which 
were  spoken.  Jesus  answered,  and  said,  'Before 
Philip  called  thee,  when  thou  wast  under  the  fig- 
tree,  I  saw  thee.'  Upon  hearing  this,  Nathaniel, 
who  knew  that  he  was  all  alone  in  his  garden, 
and  unseen  at  prayer,  when  his  brother  came, 
regarded  the  serene  face  of  Jesus  steadfastly,  and 
then,  as  if  he  beheld  therein  the  expression  of 
divinity,  he  cried  before  all  the  people,  'Rabbi, 
Thou  art  the  Son  of  God!  Thou  art  the  King  of 
Israel!'  Jesus  looked  upon  him  as  if  pleased  at 
his  confession,  and  said,  'Because  I  said  unto 
thee,  I  saw  thee  under  the  fig-tree,  believest 


170          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

thou?  Thou  shalt  see  greater  things  than  these. 
Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  hereafter  ye  shall 
see  heaven  open,  and  the  angels  of  God  ascend- 
ing and  descending  upon  the  Son  of  M-an.' 

"These  four,  Andrew  and  Peter,  Philip  and 
Nathaniel,  were  then  present  in  the  house  with 
him;  and,  to  my  surprise  and  joy,  with  them 
stood  my  own  brother  James,  whom  Jesus  had 
seen  on  the  lake  in  his  boat,  and  called  him,  when 
James  left  all  and  followed  him.  Thus  we  were 
six  disciples  in  all,  bound  to  him  by  ties  of  con- 
fidence and  love.  The  mother  of  Jesus,  a  noble 
and  matronly  woman,  still  beautiful,  and  with  a 
face  of  the  holiest  serenity,  was  present,  and 
gazed  with  love  and  tenderness  upon  her  Son, 
listening  to  his  words,  as  if  she  also  would  learn 
of  him  that  wisdom  which  hath  descended  upon 
him  from  above.  The  next  day  James  and  I 
went  to  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  but  two  hours'  dis- 
tant, to  see  our  father  Zebedee,  and  transfer  our 
interests  to  him,  and,  during  the  afternoon,  Jesus 
passed  near  the  shore  on  his  way  to  Cana,  whenf 
calling  us,  we  left  our  ships  with  our  father,  and 
joined  him.  His  mother,  and  many  of  her  kins- 
folk were  of  the  company,  all  going  to  a  mar- 
riage of  the  cousin  of  the  family.  Upon  our 
arrival  at  Cana,  we  were  ushered  into  the  guest- 
chamber,  and  Jesus,  in  particular,  was  received 
with  marked  respect  by  the  Hebrew  master  of 
the  house,  though  he  was  an  officer  in  the  service 
of  the  Romans,  We  here  met  Elizabeth,  the 
mother  of  John  the  Baptizer,  who  is  a  relative 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAVID.  ITT 

of  Mary,  the  mother  of  Jesus.  The  meeting  be- 
tween them  was  very  touching. 

"  'Ah,'  said  the  mother  of  the  prophet,  as  she 
looked  upon  Jesus,  who  was  talking  with  the 
governor  of  the  feast,  'How  blessed  art  thou,  O 
Mary,  to  have  thy  son  ever  with  thee !  while  I  am 
a  mother,  and  yet  no  mother.  The  son  whom 
God  gr.ve  me  He  hath  taken  from  me  to  be  his 
prophet,  and  he  is  to  me  as  if  he  were  dead!  Since 
his  twelfth  year  he  has  been  in  the  wilderness, 
knowing  no  man,  until  six  months  ago  he  came 
forth  to  proclaim  the  advent  of  thy  holy  Son!' 

"The  marriage  feast  at  length  commenced. 
The  wine  which  should  have  come  from  Damas- 
cus, had  not  arrived,  the  caravan  having  been 
delayed  by  the  insurrection  near  Cesarea.  The 
guests  had,  therefore,  but  little  wine,  and  the 
chief  ruler  of  the  town  presiding  at  the  feast,  see- 
ing' that  the  wine  had  given  out,  bade  the  ser- 
vants to  place  more  upon  the  board.  The 
mother  of  Jesus,  who  knew  that  the  wine  was 
out,  turning  to  him,  said,  'They  have  no  wine!' 
for  it  seems  that  she  knew  the  power  that  was 
within  him,  though  he  had  not  yet  manifested  it 
openly.  I  sat  next  to  him,  and  heard  her  when 
she  whispered  to  Jesus.  He  looked  grave,  and 
said  with  a  slight  tone  of  respectful  reproof,  and 
applying  to  her  that  title,  which  we  in  Judea  be- 
lieve most  honorable  of  all  others,  'Woman,'  he 
sald;  'what  have  I  to  do  with  thy  private  requests 
for  the  exercise  of  my  power?  You  wish  me  to 
perform  a  miracle  before  this  noble  company, 
that  they  may  behold  and  believe  on  me.  Mine 


172          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

hour  for  manifesting  my  glory  to  men  is  not  yet 
come,  nevertheless,  in  obedience  to  thy  wish,  my 
honored  mother,  I  will  do  what  thou  desirest  me 
to  do.' 

"She  then  thanked  him  with  deep  emotion,  and 
turned  to  the  servants  and  beckoned  to  them, 
while  her  cheek  borrowed  a  rich  color  from  her 
hidden  joy,  and  her  eyes,  kindled  with  the  feel- 
ings of  a  mother  about  to  see  her  son  display 
powers  such  as  only  come  by  the  gift  of  God,  and 
which  were  to  seal  Him  as  a  Prophet,  before  the 
eyes  of  Jew  and  Gentile.  For  mys  Mary,  not 
anticipating,  or  suspecting  what  was  to  take 
place,  I  regarded  the  nervous  emotions  of  the 
joyful  mother  with  marvel.  When  two  or  three 
of  the  servants  approached,  she  said  to  them: 

"  'Whatsoever  He  saith  to  you,  do  it.' 

"They  then  fixed  their  regards  upon  him, 
awaiting  his  commands,  as  little  suspecting  what 
they  would  be  as  I  did.  The  face  of  Jesus,  ever 
calm  and  dignified,  now  seemed  to  express  a  cer- 
tain consciousness  of  power  within,  that  awed 
me.  Casting  his  eyes  upon  several  stone  vases, 
which  stood  by  the  door,  empty,  he  said  to  them : 

"  'Fill  the  water-pots  with  water.' 

"In  the  court,  in  full  sight  from  the  table,  was 
a  well,  to  which  the  servants  went  with  jars, 
which  I  saw  them  fill  with  water,  bear  in  upon 
their  heads,  and  pour  it  out  into  the  water-pots, 
until  they  had  filled  them  all,  six  in  number. 
WTiile  this  was  going  on,  the  governor  of  the 
feast  was  relating  to  the  guests,  and  fixing  their 
attention,  as  well  as  his  own,  how  Herod  and 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  173 

Pontius  Pilate  had  recently  become  enemies,  be- 
cause the  latter,  on  his  way  from  Cesarea  Phil- 
ippi  to  Jerusalem,  to  be  present  with  his  forces 
during  the  weeks  of  the  Passover,  having  come 
to  a  caravansera  at  night,  which  was  occupied 
by  Herod  and  his  body-guard,  turned  them  out 
to  make  room  for  his  own,  saying  that  a  Roman 
Piocurator  was.  more  honorable  than  a  Jewish 
King  of  Galilee.  'It  will  be  long,'  added  the 
governor,  as  the  last  water-pot  was  filled,  'before 
this  quarrel  will  be  made  up  between  them.  But 
we  talk,  my  friends,  and  forget  our  wine.' 

"  'Draw  out  now,  and  bear  unto  the  governor 
of  the  feast,'  said  Jesus  to  the  servants. 

"They  obeyed,  and  pouring  rich,  blood-red 
wine  into  the  jars  which  I  and  others  had  seen 
filled  up  with  water  from  the  well,  the  amazed 
servants  bore  it  to  the  chief  of  the  feast.  He  had 
no  sooner  filled  his  goblet  and  tasted  it,  than  he 
called  to  the  bridegroom,  who  sat  in  the  middle 
of  the  table,  and  said: 

"  'Every  man,  at  the  beginning,  doth  set  forth 
good  wine,  and  when  men  have  well  drunk,  then 
that  which  is  worse,  but  thou  hast  kept  the  good 
wine  until  now.' 

"  'Who  hath  brought  this  wine?'  asked  the 
biidegroom,  drinking  of  the  water  that  was  made 
wine.  'Whence  it  came,  sir,  I  know  not.' 

"Then  the  servants  and  others  told  that  they 
had  filled  the  six  water-pots  with  water  to  the 
brim,  at  the  command  of  Jesus,  and  that  when 
they  drew  out,  behold,  it  flowed  forth  wine  in- 
stead of  water.  Upon  this  there  was  a  general 


174          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

exclamation  of  surprise ;  and  the  governor  of  the 
feast  crying  out,  'A  Prophet  hath  been  among 
us,  and  we  knew  it  not,'  rose  to  approach  and  do 
honor  to  Jesus;  but  he  had  already  conveyed 
himself  away,  rising,  and  passing  out  through  the 
door,  and  sought  the  solitude  of  the  garden. 
Thither  I  followed  him,  and  worshiping  him,  sat 
at  his  feet  and  listened  to  him,  while  he  unfolded 
to  me  wonderful  things  concerning  himself, 
showing  that  he  is  truly  the  Son  of  God,  and  the 
very  Christ.  But  these  things  I  cannot  speak  to 
thee  of  now,  for  I  do  not  clearly  understand  all 
that  he  is  to  be,  save  that  I  know  he  is  destined 
to  suffer,  and  to  be  exalted.  Doubt  not,"  con- 
crudes  the  letter  to  Mary,  "doubt  not  that  Jesus 
is  the  Christ.  His  miracle  at  Cana,  of  turning 
water  into  wine,  is  a  public  display  of  his  divine 
power.  All  men  at  the  feast  have  believed  on 
Him,  and  his  fame  is  spreading  abroad  through- 
out Galilee  and  Samaria.  He  has  told  me  pri- 
vately that  he  must  soon  visit  Jerusalem,  and  he 
will  there  openly  proclaim  his  mission  as  the 
Christ  of  God."  ' 

In  this  manner,  my  dear  father,  writes  the  be- 
trothed husband  of  my  cousin  Mary;  and  I  have 
given  you  the  extract  from  this  letter,  in  order 
that  you  may  see  that  Jesus  is  already  attracting 
great  attention,  that  he  has  disciples,  and  that  he 
is  by  no  means  poor,  who  has  the  power  to  con- 
vert wells  of  water  into  wine.  From  this  letter, 
you  must  perceive  that  Jesus  is,  at  least,  a 
Prophet,  equal  to  Elijah,  who  kept  full  the  cruse 
of  the  widow  of  Zarephath.  If,  therefore,  you  ac- 


THE  PRINCE   OP  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  175 

knowledge  this  much,  you  must  confess  that  he 
is  a  good  man.  Now,  a  good  man  will  not  lie. 
Yet,  Jesus  hath  said  to  John,  that  He  is  the 
Christ!  How,  then,  dear  father,  can  any 
one  deny,  who  believes  him  to  be  a  prophet, 
that  he  is  more  than  a  prophet,  even  Mes- 
sias?  Pardon  your  daughter  for  thus  pre- 
suming to  reason  with  you,  but  I  am  so 
earnest  that  you  should  believe,  that  I  some- 
times forget  the  daughter  in  the  disciple  of  Jesus. 
As  for  my  uncle,  the  good  and  learned  Rabbi 
Amos,  he  is  more  than  half  his  disciple;  and  I 
have  no  doubt  that  when  Jesus  shall  present  him- 
self in  Jerusalem,  and  he  can  see  him,  and  hear 
his  divine  teachings,  he  will  cast  off  all  prejudice 
and  become  his  follower. 

The  rumor  of  the  miracle  at  Cana  has  reached 
Jerusalem  since  I  began  this  letter,  and  I  hear 
that  it  has  produced  no  little  excitement  in  the 
market-places  and  courts  of  the  Temple.  Rabbi 
A.mos,  on  his  return  from  sacrifice,  a  few  minutes 
ago,  said  that  he  saw  more  than  thirty  priests, 
with  rolls  of  the  Prophets  in  their  hands,  en- 
gaged in  looking  up  the  prophecies  of  Christ. 
So,  my  dear  father,  you  see  that  the  young  man 
"who  came,"  as  you  remarked,  "no  one  knew 
whence,  and  went  no  one  knew  whither," 
is  already  taking  hold  of  the  attention  of 
Israel,  and  stirring  up  the  minds  of  all  men  to 
investigate  his  claim  to  be  the  Christ. 

Your  affectionate  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER  XIV. 

My  Dear  Father: — You  will  not  require  th( 
testimony  of  my  letters  to  enable  you  to  appre- 
ciate the  fame  of  the  wonderful  young  man  of 
Nazareth,  Jesus,  who  is  daily  proving  himself  a 
Prophet,  indeed,  and  mighty  before  God,  show- 
ing all  the  people  that  God  is  with  Him.  Not  a 
stranger  cometh  into  Jerusalem  who  does  not 
bring  report  of  some  new  miracle  which  He  hath 
done,  some  wonderful  manifestation  of  his 
power.  He  still  delays  coming  to  Jerusalem,  but 
is  engaged  in  preaching  the  coming  of  the  king- 
dom of  David  and  of  God  on  earth,  teaching  in 
the  sinagogues,  and  showing  from  the  Prophets 
that  He  is  truly  the  Messias.  And  his  fame  for 
wisdom,  for  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  for 
power  to  teach,  and  for  miracles,  has  gone 
abroad  through  all  Syria,  so  that  they  bring  to 
him,  sick  persons,  both  rich  and  poor,  even  from 
Damascus,  to  be  healed  of  him ;  and  he  heals  all 
who  are  brought  unto  him,  whether  possessed  of 


THE  PRINCE   OP  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID.          177" 

devils,  lunatic,  or  having  the  palsy.  His  foot- 
steps are  attended  by  thousands,  wheresoever  he 
goes,  and  even  the  Governor  of  Philippi,  in  his 
chariot,  hath  mingled  in  the  throng,  and  kneel- 
ing at  his  feet,  asked  the  health  of  his  son,  who 
was  palsied;  and  his  son  was  healed  by  him,  by  a 
word,  though  many  leagues  distant.  While  I 
now  write,  a  company  is  passing  by  the  open 
window,  bearing  upon  beds  two  wealthy  men  of 
Jerusalem,  who  have  been  given  over  by  their 
physicians,  who  are  going  to  him  to  be  cured; 
for  all  Jerusalem  talks  of  nothing  else  than  the 
wonderful  miracles  of  Christ.  There  was  a  man 
who  wove  baskets,  who  has  occupied  a  stall  op- 
posite our  house  for  many  years.  He  had  lost 
entirely  the  use  of  his  legs,  for  twelve  years,  and 
had  to  be  carried  to  and  fro.  Hearing  of  the 
fame  of  Jesus,  he  was  seized  with  a  strong  desire 
to  have  him  perform  a  miracle  upon  him.  For 
this  purpose  he  begged  money  from  the  priests, 
as  they  went  by  to  the  Temple,  but  though  some 
gave,  all  laughed,  saying  that  he  could  not  be 
cured,  inasmuch  as  one  of  his  limbs  was  with- 
ered. But  the  man  had  faith,  and  having  begged 
money  enough  for  his  journey  from  the  benevo- 
lent, hired  two  men  to  convey  him  five  days' 
journey  into  Galilee.  At'  the  end  of  three  weeks 
he  returned,  walking  upright,  and  well  in  body 
and  limbs!  All  the  city  flocked  to  behold  him; 
and  he  related  that  how  when  he  had  reached 
Capernaum,  where  Jesus  was,  the  crowd  was  so 
great  that  his  bearers  could  not  for  some  time 
get  near  him.  At  length,  Jesus  moved  on,  heal- 


178          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

ing  the  files  of  sick  as  he  passed  through  them, 
at  a  word.  "Seeing  me,"  said  the  man,  "he  fixed 
his  eyes  upon  me,  and  said,  calling  me  by  name: 

"  'Great  is  thy  faith.  As  thou  hast  believed, 
be  it  done  unto  thee.' 

"Immediately  my  legs  and  ankle-bones  re- 
ceived strength;  I  leaped  from  the  litter  to  the 
giound,  and  found  that  I  was  whole,  without 
pain  or  illness.  I  would  have  fallen  at  his  feet  in 
ecstasy  of  joy,  but  the  crowds  which  pressed  him 
separated  me  from  the  sight  of  him.  But  I  filled 
the  air  with  shouts  and  hallelujahs  to  the  Son  of 
David!" 

This  man,  my  dear  father,  I  now  see  daily, 
moving  about,  sound  in  limb  and  health;  but  this 
one  instance  is  but  one  of  a  thousand.  John, 
who  follows  Jesus  everywhere  he  goes,  and  is  a 
witness  of  all  that  he  does  and  teaches,  writes  to 
Mary,  that  "the  sick  and  afflicted  from  all  parts 
of  the  land  of  Galilee,  from  Decapolis,  from  Jeru- 
salem, from  beyond  Jordan,  even  from  Lesser 
Asia,  come  to  him.  When  my  beloved  master," 
he  writes,  "comes  forth  from  a  synagogue,  where 
he  has  been  reading  the  Prophets  to  the  people, 
who  hear  him  gladly,  I  have  beheld  two  hundred 
persons,  the  lame,  the  palsied,  the  withered,  the 
blind,  the  possessed  of  devils,  and  persons 
afflicted  with  all  manners  of  diseases,  laid  in 
rows  before  the  gate  of  the  synagogue,  awaiting 
his  coining  forth.  Those  who  bore  them  were 
standing  in  eager,  expectant  groups  near  them. 
It  was  a  painful,  yet  sublime  spectacle,  to  behold 
the  hollow  eyes  of  those  wretched  sufferers. 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   DAVID  179 

turned  towards  the  door  as  the  people  came  run- 
ning forth,  shouting,  'He  comes!  He  comes!' 
The  writhing  torments  of  the  possessed  with 
devils  ceased  for  the  moment,  and  groans  gave 
way  to  expecting  silence.  Jesus  at  length  ap- 
pears, and  upon  seeing  his  face,  that  ever 
expresses  holy  benignity  and  innate  power,  they 
set  up  touching  cries  of  the  most  thrilling  appeal 
for  his  aid,  and  such  appeals  are  never  uttered  in 
vain.  Going  through  the  rows  of  beds  and  lit- 
ters, He  lays  his  hand  upon  some,  speaks  a  word 
to  others,  touches  the  eyes  of  the  blind  and  the 
ears  of  the  deaf,  lays  his  hand  gently  upon  the 
head  of  the  lunatic,  and  commands  in  tones  of 
authority,  the  devils  to  leave  the  bodies  of  the 
possessed.  And  what  is  extraordinary,"  contin- 
ues John,  "the  devils  always  conduct  with  more 
terrific  violence  as  he  draws  near,  and  while  they 
leave  the  man  with  curses,  they  confess  loudly 
that  Jesus  is  'the  Son  of  David — the  Son  of 
God!'  and  implore  him,  in  the  most  abject  man- 
ner, not  utterly  to  destroy  them!  So  great  is 
the  multitude  which  everywhere  follows  him, 
that  he  is  often  compelled  to  withdraw  from  them 
by  stealth,  to  get  to  some  by-place  of  quiet, 
where  he  can  refresh  his  wearied  strength  for  a 
few  days.  At  such  times  we,  who  are  his  imme- 
diate followers,  have  the  benefit  of  his  teaching 
and  private  instructions.  But  he  cannot  remain 
long  away  from  the  people.  They  soon  pene- 
trate his  retirement,  and  he  never  can  refuse  their 
appeals  to  his  miraculous  powers  to  do  them 
good.  How  wonderful  is  he  who  thus  holds  in 


180          THE   PRINCE    OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

his  hand  divine  power!  The  power  of  kings  is 
nothing  before  that  which  he  possesses  in  his 
voice;  yet,  he  is  serene,  humble,  oh,  how  humble! 
to  our  shame,  and  always  calm  and  gentle.  He 
spends  much  time  in  private  prayer  to  God, 
whom  he  always  addresses  as  his  Father.  Never 
was  such  a  man  on  earth.  We,  who  know  him 
most  intimately,  stand  most  in  awe  of  him;  yet, 
with  our  deep  reverence  for  his  holy  character  is 
combined  the  purest  affection.  In  one  and  the 
same  breath,  I  feel  that  I  adore  him  as  my  Lord, 
and  love  him,  even  as  my  brother.  So  we  all 
feel  towards  him.  His  engaging  manners,  his 
patience  with  our  ignorance,  his  forbearance  with 
our  grossness,  his  ready  excuses  for  us  when  we 
are  in  fault,  ere  we  have  time  to  exculpate  our- 
selves, all  have  bound  us  to  him  with  ties  that 
can  never  be  sundered.  When  I  next  write  to 
you,"  continues  John,  "I  will  relate  to  you,  so  far 
as  they  are  understood  by  me  and  my  fellow-dis- 
ciples, the  things  which  he  reveals  respecting 
himself  and  the  object  of  his  mission  on  earth. 
Some  things,  however,  are  not  comprehended  by 
us,  but  he  promises  that  we  shall  by  and  by 
understand  what  now  appears  obscure  tc  us." 

Such,  my  dear  father,  is  the  tenor  of  the  letters 
which  my  cousin  Mary  receives  from  John,  the 
disciple  of  Jesus.  They  are  all  filled  with  ac- 
counts of  his  miracles,  of  his  teachings,  and  of  his 
journeyings.  When  we  shall  see  Jesus  at  Jeru- 
salem, I  shall  be  able,  from  personal  observation, 
to  write  to  you  more  particularly  concerning  his 
doctrines  and  miracles.  That  He  is  the  Christ, 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  181 

•thousands  now  believe;  for  they  ask,  very  natu- 
rally, how  could  he  do  these  things  unless  God 
were  with  him?  What  is  also  of  importance,  it 
has  been  proven  by  the  results  of  the  examina- 
tion made  by  some  of  the  scribes  of  the  Temple, 
that  he  was  truly  born  in  Bethlehem,  and  that 
both  his  mother,  Mary,  and  Joseph,  her  husband, 
are  lineally  descended  of  the  house  of  David. 
Moreover,  Phineas,  the  venerable  priest,  whom 
you  know,  hath  borne  testimony  to  the  fact,  that 
when  Jesus  was  an  infant,  during  the  reign  of  •the 
elder  Herod,  there  arrived  in  Jerusalem  three 
eminent  princes,  men  of  wisdom  and  learning. 
One  of  these  came  from  Persia;  one  from  the 
Giecian  province  of  Media;  and  one  from 
Arabia;  and  brought  with  them  gifts  of  gold  and 
spices,  and  were  attended  by  retinues.  These 
three  princes  reached  Jerusalem  the  same  day  by 
three  different  ways,  and  entered  by  three  differ- 
ent gates,  each  unknowing  the  other's  presence 
or  object,  till  they  met  in  the  city  before  Herod's 
palace.  One  represented  himself  descended  from 
Shem,  another  from  Japhet,  the  third  from  Ham. 
The  king  hearing  that  these  three  strangers  had 
arrived  in  Jerusalem,  he  sent  to  know  wherefore 
they  had  honored  his  kingdom  with  a  visit. 
"They  answered,"  says  Phineas,  as  he  yesterday 
related  the  narrative  in  the  presence  of  Caiaphas, 
and  many  of  the  rulers  and  Pharisees,  'that  they 
came  to  do  homage  to  the  young  Prince,  who 
was  born  King  of  the  Jews.'  And  when  Herod 
asked  what  prince  they  spoke  of,  they  answered, 


182          THE   PRINCE   OP   THE   HOUSE   OP  DAVID. 

'we  have  seen  his  star  in  the  East,  and  are  come 
to  worship  him!' " 

"  'How  know  you  the  star  you  have  seen  indi- 
cates the  birth  of  a  Prince  of  Judea?'  demanded 
King  Herod,  greatly  troubled  at  what  he  heard. 

"  'It  had  a  motion  towards  this  city/  they  an- 
swered, 'and  we  have  been  led  by  a  heavenly  im- 
pulse to  follow  it,  and  lo,  it  has  led  us  to  Jerusa- 
lem, over  which,  were  it  now  night,  you  would 
see  it  suspended,  burning  with  the  glory  of  a 
planet;  and  it  hath  been  revealed  to  us  that  it  is 
the  star  of  the  birth  of  one  who  is  to  reign  King 
of  Judah !  Tell  us,  therefore,  oh  king,  where  this 
august  Prince  is  now  to  be  found,  that  we  may 
worship  him!' 

"Hereupon,"  says  Phineas,  "the  king  issued 
an  edict  for  all  the  chief  priests  and  scribes  of  the 
people  to  assemble  in  the  council  chamber  of  his 
palace.  He  then  addressed  them: 

"  'Ye,  to  whom  is  given  the  care  of  the  Books 
of  the  Law  and  of  the  Prophets,  whose  study 
they  are,  and  in  whom  lies  the  skill  to  interpret 
the  prophecies,  search  therein,  and  tell  me  truly 
where  the  Christ  is  to  be  born.  Behold  here 
present  these  august  and  wise  men,  who  have 
come  from  afar  to  do  Him  homage;  nay,  more, 
as  they  aver,  to  worship  Him  as  God.  Let  us 
have  the  courtesy  to  give  them  the  answer  that 
they  seek,  and  let  us  not  be  found  more  ignorant 
of  these  things  than  those  who  dwell  in  other 
lands!' 

"Several  of  the  Chief  Priests  then  rose  and 
said,  'It  is  known,  oh,  king,  to  all  who  are  Jews, 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OP  DAVID.  188 

and  who  read  the  Prophets,  that  Messias  cometh 
of  the  house  of  David,  of  the  town  of  Bethlehem; 
for  thus  it  is  written  by  the  prophet:  "And  thou, 
Bethlehem,  in  the  land  of  Judah,  art  not  least 
among  the  Princes  of  Judah,  for  out  of  thee  shall 
come  a  Governor  that  shall  rule  my  people 
Israel!'" 

''This  question  being  thus  decided,"  continued 
Phineas,  "Herod  dismissed  the  council,  and,  re- 
•ffring  to  his  own  private  room,  sent  to  the  three 
princes  of  the  East  to  inquire  of  them  what  time 
the  star  appeared.  And  when  they  had  named 
the  very  day  and  hour  on  which  they  had  first 
seen  it,  he  was  thereby  enabled  to  arrive  at  the 
probable  age  of  the  infant.  He  then  said  to 
them : 

( 'You  have  my  permission,  noble  strangers, 
to  go  to  Bethlehem,  and  search  for  the  young 
child;  and  when  ye  have  found  him,  bring  me 
\vor-d  again,  that  I  may  come  and  worship  him 
also;  for  it  is  but  meet  that  we  should  pay  all 
possible  honors  to  a  Prince  of  our  realm,  whose 
birth  is  heralded  in  so  unusual  a  manner,  and  to 
worship  whom  even  the  East  sends  forth  her 
wise  men.'  They  then  left  the  presence  of  Herod, 
and,  it  being  dark  when  they  left  the  palace,  they 
were  overjoyed  to  behold  the  star  which  they 
saw  in  the  East,  going  before  them.  They  fol- 
lowed it  until  it  left  Jerusalem  by  the  Bethlehem, 
gate,  and  it  led  them  on  to  the  town  of  Bethle- 
hem, and  stopped  above  an  humble  dwelling 
therein.  When  they  were  come  into  the  house, 
they  saw  a  ray  of  the  star  resting  upon  the  head 


18£         THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

of  an  infant  in  the  arms  of  its  mother,  Alary,  tfie 
wife  of  Joseph.  They  at  once  acknowledged  and 
hailed  him  as  Prince  and  King  of  Israel,  and  fall- 
ing down,  worshiped  him;  and  opening  their 
treasures  they  presented  unto  him  gold,  frankin- 
cense, and  myrrh,  gifts  that  are  offered  on  the 
altar  to  God  alone!" 

When  Phineas  was  asked  by  Caiaphas  how  he 
knew  this  fact,  he  answered,  that  he,  himself, 
prompted  by  curiosity  to  see  the  Prince  they  had 
come  to  worship,  had  followed  them  out  of  the 
palace  of  Herod,  out  of  the  gate,  and  even  into 
Bethlehem,  and  witnessed  their  prostrations  and 
offerings  to  the  infant  child  of  Mary.  "And," 
he  added,  "if  this  be  doubted,  there  are  many 
Jews,  now  living  in  Jerusalem,  and  a  certain  He- 
brew captain,  now  stricken  in  years,  who  can 
testify  to  the  slaughter,  by  Herod's  command,  of 
the  infants  of  Bethlehem;  for  this  captain  Jere- 
mias  led  on  the  soldiers." 

"And  wherefore  this  slaughter?"  asked  Caia- 
phas. "It  is  not  on  record." 

"Kings  do  not  record  their  deeds  of  violence," 
answered  Phineas.  "Herod  kept  it  hushed  up 
when  he  found  that  he  gained  nothing  by  it  but 
hatred.  He  slew  them,  in  order  that  the  infant 
Jesus  might  be  destroyed  among  them;  for  the 
three  wise  men,  instead  of  returning  through 
Jerusalem  to  their  own  country,  and  informing1 
him  where  they  had  found  the  child,  departed 
by  another  way;  and  when  Herod  found  that 
they  were  gone,  he  became  so  enraged,  that  he 
sent  out  a  party  of  troops,  under  Jeremias,  their 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   I1OUSE   OF  DAVID  185 

I 

captain,  who  now  liveth  to  testify,  ordering  them 
to  slay  every  child  under  two  years  of  age  in 
Bethlehem,  hoping,  as  I  have  said,  to  kill  the  in- 
fant Jesus  among  the  number.  But  the  child 
escaped,  doubtless,  by  God's  powerful  protec- 
tion; and  his  fame  in  his  manhood  this  day  fills 
the  ears  of  all  Israel.  The  adoration  of  these 
three  men,  who  were  sons  of  Shem,  Ham,  and 
Japhet,  represents  the  homage  of  the  whole  race 
of  mankind  that  shall  yet  be  paid  to  Him!" 

"Dost  thou- believe  in  him,  also?"  asked  Caia- 
phas,  with  angry  surprise,  looking  sternly  on 
Phineas. 

"I  will  first  see,  and  hear  him  speak ;  and  if  he 
appear  to  me  to  be  Messias,  I  will  gladly  worship 
him." 

"Hereupon,"  said  Rabbi  Amos,  who  gave  me 
the  details  of  the  foregoing  interview  between 
Caiaphas  and  Phineas,  "there  arose  a  great  up- 
roar, some  crying  that  Jesus  was  the  Christ,  and 
others,  that  Phineas  should  be  stoned  to  death." 

Thus,  you  see,  my  dear  father,  how  the  evi- 
dence increases  in  value  and  importance,  proving 
Jesus  to  be  the  Messiah.  His  very  cradle  bears 
testimony  to  his  divine  character;  and,  surely,  do 
his  miracles  now  confirm  the  pledge  given  by 
the  remarkable  circumstances  attending  his 
childhood.  The  captain  Jeremias,  now  a  gray- 
headed  old  soldier,  having  been  called  upon,  tes- 
tifies that  he  obeyed  such  an  order  of  Herod,  and 
that  it  was  given  within  three  days  after  the  three 
Princes  of  the  East  quitted  Jerusalem  for  Bethle- 
hem. Now,  my  dear  father,  let  me  sum  up  the 


186         THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

evidences  that  Jesus  is  the  Messiah.  First,  his 
presentation  in  the  Temple,  when  holy  Simeon. 
and  Anna  worshiped  and  prophesied  of  him. 
Secondly,  the  star  which  led  the  wise  men  to 
Betlehem.  Thirdly,  their  adoration  of  him  in  his 
cradle.  Fourthly,  the  testimony  of  John  the 
Baptist.  Fifthly,  the  voice  of  God  at  his  bap- 
tism. Sixthly,  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
upon  him  in  the  form  of  a  dove.  Seventhly,  his 
miracle  at  Cana  of  Galilee.  And,  lastly,  the  glit- 
tering coronet  of  miracles  that  now  encircles  his 
brow,  shedding  a  light  and  glory  upon  his  path 
that  blinds  and  dazzles  the  eye  steadfastly  to  be- 
hold. Tell  me,  dear  father,  is  not  this  the 
Christ? 

Your  affectionate  and  loving 

ADINA. 


LETTER  XV. 

My  Dear  Father: — The  inquiry  you  made  in 
your  last  letter,  "What  hath  become  of  John  of 
Jordan,  since  the  fame  of  Jesus  hath  so  far 
eclipsed  his  own?"  I  can  answer,  but  with  sad- 
ness. Your  inquiry  seems  to  infer  that  he  would 
feel  envious  of  the  power  and  the  miracles  that 
distinguish  his  Successor.  But,  on  the  contrary, 
John  always  plainly  declared  in  his  preaching, 
that  "  he  was  not  worthy  to  unloose  the  shoe 
latchet  of  Him  who  was  to  come  after  him;"  and 
he  distinctly  said  many  times  to  all,  that  "He  to 
whom  I  bear  witness  must  increase,  but  I  must 
decrease!"  The  mission  on  which  John  came 
terminated  when  Jesus  came.  Soon  afterwards 
he  left  the  wilderness,  and  entered  Jericho,  where 
Herod  was  then  dwelling.  Here  he  preached  in 
the  public  places,  and  in  the  market,  and  on  the 
very  steps  of  the  palace,  that  God's  judgments 
were  coming  upon  the  earth,  and  that  men  must, 
by  repentance,  appease  his  wrath ;  and  that  Christ 


188          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OP  DAVID. 

would  be  the  Judge  of  men!  Now,  while  he  was 
thus  speaking  to  the  people,  and  the  officers  and 
soldiers  of  the  Tetrarch's  guard,  Herod  himself 
came  forth  upon  the  balcony  to  listen,  for  he  had 
heard  much  of  John,  and  had  long  a  desire  to 
hear  him.  The  prophet  no  sooner  beheld  him, 
than  he  boldly  addressed  him,  and  sternly  re- 
proved him  for  the  sin  of  having  married  the 
widow  of  his  brother  Philip,  contrary  to  law. 
Now,  Herod,  it  is  said,  did  not  show  resentment 
at  this  plain  dealing,  and  inviting  the  prophet 
into  his  hall,  talked  much  with  him,  and  in  part- 
ing, offered  him  gifts,  which  John  refused  to 
touch.  The  next  day  he  sent  for  him  again,  to 
£<k  him  some  questions  touching  the  Messias 
whom  he  preached.  Now,  Herodia,  when  it 
was  reported  to  her  how  tha*t  the  prophet  had 
publicly  spoken  against  her  marriage  with 
Herod,  became  very  angry;  and  when  she  found 
that  John  was  still  favored  by  her  husband,  she 
sent  for  Herod,  and  said,  "that  if  he  would  please 
her  he  must  throw  the  prophet  of  Jordan  into 
prison."  Herod  would  have  excused  him, 
asserting  that  he  was  a  man  of  God ;  but  Herodia 
only  the  more  vehemently  insisted  that  he  should 
be  cast  into  prison.  At  length  Herod  yielded, 
against  his  own  will,  and  gave  orders  for  the  ar- 
rest of  the  prophet,  who  the  same  night  was 
thrown  into  the  ward  of  the  castle.  When  this 
intelligence  reached  the  followers  of  John,  it 
created  great  sorrow ;  and  many  went  to  see  him 
and  talk  with  him.  But  he  told  them  they  must 
think  of  him  no  longer;  that  his  short  stay  was 


THE   PRINCE  OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  18? 

Qrawing  to  its  close;  but  that  they  must  turn 
their  eyes  towards  the  Christ  the  Sun  of  Right- 
eousness, whose  rising  was  unto  an  everlasting^ 
day.  "Said  I  not  unto  ye,"  he  asked  of  them, 
"He  must  increase  and  I  must  decrease?"  For 
some  weeks  this  holy  man,  whose  only  offence 
was  that  he  had  courage  to  reprove  sin  in  high 
places,  remained  in  prison,  while  Herod  each  day 
sought  to  find  some  excuse  for  releasing  him 
without  displeasing  Herodia,  of  whose  anger  he 
stood  in  great  fear,  he  being  an  abject  slave  to 
his  love  for  her.  At  length  the  birthday  of  Her- 
od arrived,  and  he  conveyed  word  to  John  that 
in  honor  of  the  day  he  would  send  and  fetch  him 
out  of  prison,  so  soon  as  he  should  obtain  the 
consent  of  his  wife,  which  he  believed  she  would 
accord  to  him  on  such  an  anniversary. 

Now,  after  the  feast,  Philippa,  the  daughter  of 
Herodia  and  of  her  former  husband  Philip,  came 
in  and  danced  before  Herod ;  and  being  beautiful 
in  person  and  full  of  grace  in  every  motion,  she 
so  pleased  her  step-father  that  he  made  oathr 
having  drunk  much  wine  with  his  guests,  that  he 
would  give  her  whatever  she  would  ask,  were  it 
the  half  of  his  kingdom.  Her  mother  then  call- 
ed to  her,  and  — hispered  to  her  imperatively. 

"Give  me,"  said  the  maiden,  turning  towards 
Herod,  asking  what  her  mother  had  commanded, 
"the  head  now  of  John  Baptist  in  a  charger." 

The  king  no  sooner  heard  this  request  than  he 
turned  pale,  and  said  fiercely: 

"Thy  mother  hath  been  tampering  with  thine 
ears,  girl."  Herodia,  however,  betrayed  no  con- 


190    THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

fusion,  but  sat  unconcerned.  Herod,  it  is  said 
by  those  who  were  present,  hesitated  a  long  time, 
and  at  length  said:  "Ask  half  of  my  kingdom  and 
I  will  give  it  thee ;  but  let  me  not  shed  blood  on 
my  birthday." 

"Wilt  thou  falsify  thine  oath?"  asked  his  wife, 
scornfully. 

''For  mine  oath's  sake,  and  for  these  who  have 
heard  it,  I  will  grant  thy  desire,"  he  at  length 
answered,  with  a  sigh  of  regret  and  self-reproach. 
He  then  turned  to  the  captain  of  the  guard,  and 
commanded  him  to  slay  John  Baptist  in  prison, 
and  bring  presently  there  his  head  upon  a 
charger. 

At  the  end  of  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  which  was 
passed  by  Herod  in  great  excitement,  walking  up 
and  down  the  floor,  and  by  his  guests  in  silent 
expectation,  the  door  opened,  and  the  captain  of 
the  guard  entered,  followed  by  the  executioner, 
who  carried  a  brazen  platter  upon  which  lay  the 
gory  head  of  the  eloquent  forerunner  of  Christ. 

"Give  it  to  her!"  cried  Herod  sternly,  waving 
him  towards  the  beautiful,  but  cruel  and  heartless 
maiden,  who  stood  near  the  inner  door.  The 
executioner  placed  the  charger  in  her  hands; 
and,  without  turning  pale,  but  with  a  smile  of 
triumph,  she  bore  it  to  her  mother,  who  had  re- 
tired to  an  inner  chamber.  It  is  said,  that  no 
sooner  did  she  behold  it,  than  she  spat  in  the 
face,  and  setting  it  up  before  her,  reviled  it.  His 
disciples,  when  they  heard  of  his  death,  came  to 
Herod  and  asked  the  body  of  John,  and  taking  it 
away,  buried  it;  but  when  they  would  have  asked 


THE  PKINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OP  DAVID.  191 

the  head  also  of  Herodia,  she  answered,  "that  she 
had  given  it  to  her  dogs  to  devour!"  So  terrible 
can  be  the  revenge  of  a  woman  who  fears  not 
God! 

All  the  disciples  of  the  murdered  prophet  then 
went  where  Jesus  was  preaching  and  healing-, 
and  told  him  what  had  been  done  to  John. 
"When  Jesus  heard  of  the  death  of  John  he  was 
very  sorrowful/'  writes  John,  his  disciple,  to 
Mary,  "and  went  away  into  a  desert  place  apart, 
in  order  to  mourn  over  the  fate  of  his  bold  and 
holy  forerunner."  In  the  meanwhile,  the  disci- 
ples of  John  Baptist,  believing  that  the  murder  of 
their  prophet  was  but  the  first  blow  of  a  general 
slaughter,  lied  into  the  deserts,  and  sought  Jesus 
to  protect  and  counsel  them.  At  length  he  found 
himself  surrounded  by  a  great  multitude,  who 
had  fled  from  the  cities,  chiefly  of  John's  disciples, 
besides  many  who  came  to  hear  him  preach,  and 
be  healed  of  him.  The  place  was  a  desert,  and  far 
from  any  town.  Forgetful  of  all  else,  save  fol- 
lowing Jesus,  they  were  without  food.  "Which," 
says  John,  writing  to  RabbiAmos,  "we  who  were 
his  disciples  seeing,  suggested  that  Jesus  should 
send  them  away  to  the  villages  to  buy  themselves 
victuals.  But  Jesus  answered  us  and  said  quietly: 

"They  need  not  go  away — give  ye  them  to 
eat.' 

"And  Simon  said,  'Master,  where  can  we  get 
bread  for  so  many?  There  is  verily  here  an  army 
.to  be  fed,  and  we  have  among  us  but  five  loaves 
and  two  small  fishes.'  Upon  hearing  this,  Jesus 
said,  'It  is  enough ;  bring  them  hither  to  me.' 


192  THE   PRINCE   OF   THE    HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

"We  collected  the  bread  and  fishes,  and  I,  my- 
self, laid  them  upon  a  rock  before  Jesus.  He 
then  said  to  us,  'Command  the  multitude  to  sit 
down  on  the  grass.'  And  when  they  were  all 
seated  he  took  the  five  loaves,  and  laying  his 
hands  upon  them  and  upon  the  two  fishes,  he 
looked  up  to  heaven  and  blessed  them;  and  then 
breaking  them  into  fragments,  he  gave  them  to 
us,  his  disciples,  and  bade  us  distribute  to  the 
people.  As  often  as  we  would  return  for  more, 
we  found  the  loaves  and  the  fishes  undiminished, 
and  I  saw  with  wonder  how  when  he  would 
break  off  a  piece  of  one  of  the  fishes,  or  of  a  loaf, 
the  same  part  would  immediately  be  seen  thereon 
as  if  it  had  not  been  separated ;  and  in  this  man- 
ner he  continued  to  break  and  distribute  to  us 
for  nearly  an  hour,  until  all  ate  as  much  as  they 
would,  and  were  filled;  and  when  no  one  de- 
manded more,  and  he  ceased  to  break,  he  com- 
manded us  to  gather  up  the  fragments  which 
lay  by  his  side,  which  he  had  piled  up  about  him 
as  rapidly  as  he  broke  them  off,  and  they  were 
twelve  baskets  full,  over  and  above  what  was 
needed.  The  number  that  were  thus  miraculously 
fed  was  about  five  thousand  men,  besides  nearly 
an  equal  number  of  women  and  children.  And 
this  mighty  Prophet,  who  could  thus  feed  an 
army,  voluntarily  suffered  forty  days  and  nights 
'  the  pangs  of  hunger  in  the  desert!  He  seems 
both  a  man  in  suffering,  and  a  God  in  creating!" 

This  wonderful  miracle,  my  dear  father,  is  one 
that  has  too  many  witnesses  to  be  denied.  He 
who  could  feed  five  thousand  could  feed  all  men! 


THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID.          19$ 

Must  not  He  then,  who  could  feed  all  mankind, 
be  divine?  Surely,  this  must  be  the  Son  of  God! 
If  I  should  mention  to  you  all  the  miracles  which 
have  been  done  by  him,  I  should  fill  many  let- 
ters. Not  a  day  passes  that  we  do  not  hear  of 
some  more  extraordinary  exhibition  of  his 
power  than  the  preceding.  Every  morning,  when 
men  meet  in  the  market  places,  or  in  the  courts 
of  the  Temple,  the  first  inquiry  is,  "what  new 
wonder  has  he  performed?  Have  you  heard  of 
another  miracle  of  this  mighty  Prophet?"  In- 
deed, so  great  is  the  interest  here  felt  to  see 
Jesus  and  witness  his  miracles,  that  where  one 
went  to  hear  John  preach  in  the  wilderness  of 
Jordan,  ten  go  to  see  Christ  in  Galilee.  The 
priests  alone  are  offended,  and  speak  evil  of  him 
through  envy.  They  say  that  he  draws  off  peo- 
ple from  the  sacrifices;  that  he  is  preaching 
another  law  than  that  of  Moses;  that  he  eats 
with  sinners ;  that  he  enters  the  houses  of  Samar- 
itans; and  that  he  loveth  Galilee  rather  than  Jeru- 
salem, which  they  contend,  is  an  evidence  that 
he  is  not  the  Christ  who  was  "to  come  to  the 
Temple  and  send  forth  his  law  from  Jerusalem." 
They  have  even  gone  so  far  as  to  assert  that 
he  performs  his  miracles  by  magic  and  the  aid  of 
Beelzebub,  the  Prince  of  the  devils.  "If  we  suf- 
fer him  to  take  men's  minds  as  he  doth,"  said 
Caiaphas  to  Rabbi  Amos  yesterday,  when  he 
heard  that  Jesus  had  walked  on  the  sea  to  join 
his  disciples  in  their  ship,  and  stilled  a  tempest 
•with  a  word,  "the  worship  in  the  Temple  will  be 


194:          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

at  an  end,  and  the  sacrifice  will  cease.  He  draw- 
eth  all  men  unto  him." 

Herod  having,  as  I  have  said,  slain  John,  and 
hearing  soon  after  of  the  fame  of  Jesus,  said  to 
Herodia:  "This  is  John  Baptist  risen  from  the 
dead,  and  therefore  do  mighty  works  show  forth 
themselves  in  him." 

"If  he  rise  from  the  dead  threescore  and  ten 
times,  I  will  have  his  head,"  answered  Herodia; 
whereon  Herod  privately  sent  to  Jesus,  suppos- 
ing him  to  be  John  Baptist,  to  keep  in  the  parts 
of  Galilee  where  he  was.  The  Levites  and 
Scribes  of  the  city  contend  that  he  is  Elias,  who 
it  is  prophesied  must  come  and  restore  all  things 
before  Messias.  Others  believe  that  he  is  Isaiah, 
or  Jeremiah,  raised  from  the  dead;  and  some  say 
one  thing,  and  others  another  thing.  They  are 
willing  to  believe  Jesus  to  be  everything  but 
that  which  he  is,  viz.,  the  true  Christ,  Son  of  the 
Highest. 

You  have  asked,  dear  father,  in  your  letter, 
"Where  is  Elias,  who  is  to  precede  Messias,  ac- 
cording to  the  Prophet  Malachi?"  This  ques- 
tion Jesus  himself  has  answered,  says  John, 
when  some  Rabbis  put  it  to  him.  He  answered 
them  thus : 

"Elias  has  come  already,  and  ye  have  done 
unto  him  whatsoever  ye  listed." 

"Dost  thou  speak  of  John  the  Baptist?"  asked 
those  about  him  when  they  heard  this. 

"John  came  in  the  spirit  and  power  of  Elias, 
and  therefore  was  he  thus  called  by  the  prophet," 
was  the  answer  of  Jesus. 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAVID.  195 

I  have  written  you  mainly  of  the  miracles  of 
Jesus,  dear  father,  as  being  evidences  conclusive 
of  his  divine  power  and  authority  to  teach  and 
restore  Israel.  I  have  said  little  of  his  teaching, 
as  I  have  not  yet  heard  him;  but  I  have  heard 
those  who  have  listened  to  him  repeat  much  that 
he  has  taught  them.  Such  words  of  wisdom, 
such  pureness  of  teaching,  such  holy  precepts, 
and  divine  instruction, never  fell  from  lips  of  man. 
Oh,  when  shall  I  be  so  blessed  as  to  hear  his 
voice,  and  hang  on  the  eloquence  of  his  lips!  I 
envy  all  who  have  heard  him  speak. 

I  did  not  tell  you  that  besides  the  six  disciples 
whom  I  have  named,  he  has  chosen  six  others, 
which  twelve  he  keeps  near  his  person  as  his 
more  favored  followers,  and  whom  he  daily  in- 
structs in  the  doctrines  he  came  down  from  heav- 
en to  teach,  Of  the  thousands  who  never  weary 
going  from  place  to  place  in  his  train,  he  has 
selected  seventy  men,  whom  he  dispatched  by 
twos  into  every  city  and  village  of  Judea,  com- 
manding them  to  proclaim  the  kingdom  of  God 
as  at  hand,  and  that  the  time  when  men  every- 
where should  repent  and  turn  to  God,  had  come. 

Thus  you  see,  my  dear  father,  that  the  solitary 
and  unknown  young  man,  who  was  baptized  not 
a  year  since  in  Jordan,  is  now  wielding  more  in- 
fluence in  the  land  than  the  Roman  Procurator 
Pilate,  or  Herod.  Nay,  not  many  days  since, 
after  he  had  fed  another  multitude  by  a  miracle, 
the  people  would  have  him  made  a  king  by  force; 
but  he  withdrew  from  the  press,  and  retired  into  a 
mountain  alone,  to  escape  this  honor.  There- 


196          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OP   DAVID. 

fore,  dear  father,  he  is  no  ambitious  leader.  His 
kingdom,  if  he  is  to  be  a  king,  is  not  to  be  re- 
ceived as  the  gift  of  men.  Yet  that  he  will  be  a 
King  is  as  certain  as  that  he  is  the  Christ;  for 
the  prophecy  says  that  Messias  "shall  sit  upon 
the  throne  of  his  father  David."  Who  can  look 
into  the  future  and  behold  the  limit  of  his  glory? 
Already  by  faith  I  see  him  crowned  by  the  same 
mighty  God  who  proclaimed  from  heaven  that  he 
was  his  beloved  Son,  crowned  King  of  kings  and 
Lord  of  lords;  with  his  throne  upon  Mount  Zion, 
and  the  nations  of  the  earth  tributary  to  his  scep- 
tre of  righteousness,  and  illimitable  dominion. 
He  is  the  stone  cut  out  of  a  rock  without  hands, 
that  shall  fill  the  whole  earth. 

You  may  charge  me  with  being  enthusiastic, 
my  dear  father;  but  if  Jesus  be  the  Christ,  earth 
has  no  language  that  can  express  the  splendor  of 
his  reign. 

It  is  now  commonly  reported  that  he  will  be 
here  at  the  Passover.  I  shall  then  behold  him, 
and  like  the  wise  men,  I  shall  worship  him  with 
mingled  awe  and  love.  I  will  again  write  you, 
dear  father,  after  I  see  and  hear  him.  Till  then, 
believe  me  your  affectionate  daughter, 


LETTER    XVI. 

My  Dear  Father: — While  I  write,  the  city  is: 
agitated  like  a  tumultuous  sea.  The  loud  mur- 
murs of  the  multitudes  in  the  streets,  and  even  in 
the  distant  market  place,  reach  my  startled  ears. 
A  cohort  of  Roman  cavalry  has  just  thundered 
past  toward  the  Temple,  where  the  uproar  is 
greatest;  for  a  rumor  of  an  insurrection  begun 
among  the  people,  has  come  to  Pilot  the  Procu- 
rator. But  this  is  no  insurrection  against  the 
Roman  authority,  dear  father;  alas,  our  people, 
who  were  once  God's  people  and  the  masters  of 
the  East,  are  now  too  servile  and  submissive  to 
their  pagan  masters,  the  Romans,  to  lift  up  a 
finger  to  remove  their  degrading  yoke!  Would 
that  it  were  a  movement  for  the  liberties  of 
Judea!  The  occasion  of  the  tumult,  which  seems 
to  increase  each  moment,  is  an  extraordinary  act 
of  power  on  the  part  of  the  new  prophet,  Jesus, 
that  name  become,  by  means  of  my  pen,  so 
familiar  to  you, — a  name  at  which,  I  can  say; 


198  THE   PRlflCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   Of   DAV1U. 

without  enthusiasm,  every  knee  will  yet  bow, 
both  of  Jew  and  Gentile!  I  will  relate  to  you  the 
circumstances;  for  this  act  of  power  from  him  is 
another  proof  of  his  divine  mission. 

In  my  last  letter,  dear  father,  I  stated  that  it 
was  commonly  reported  that  this  wonderful  man 
would  be  up  to  the  Passover,  and  that  all  men 
were  talking  of  the  approaching  event,  and  really 
thinking  more  of  his  presence  here,  than  of  the 
Passover  itself.  Nay,  it  was  said  that  many  who 
would  not  otherwise  be  in  Jerusalem,  would 
come  hither  in  order  to  see  him,  and  to  witness 
some  new  miracle;  and  to-day  Rabbi  Amos  says 
the  number  of  strangers  in  the  city  is  hitherto 
unprecedented. 

Yesterday  my  cousin  John  came  unexpectedly 
into  the  hall  of  the  fountain,  in  the  rear  of  the 
house,  where  we  were  all  seated  in  the  cool  of  the 
vines,  with  which  Mary's  taste  has  covered  a  wall 
of  trellis-work.  Uncle  Amos  was  in  the  act  of 
reading  to  us  from  the  Prophet  Jeremiah,  a 
prophecy  relating  to  the  Messias  that  is  to  come 
(nay,  that  is  come,  dear  father),  when  John  ap- 
peared. Mary's  blushes  welcomed  him,  and 
showed  how  dear  he  was  to  her.  Uncle  Amos 
embraced  and  kissed  him  and  seated  him  by  us, 
and  called  for  a  slave  to  bathe  his  feet,  for  he  was 
dusty  and  travel-worn.  From  him  we  learned 
that  his  beloved  master,  Jesus,  had  reached  Beth- 
any, and  was  reposing  from  his  fatigues  at  the 
hospitable  though  humble  house  of  Lazarus, 
Mary  and  Martha.  When  we  heard  this  we  were 


THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          199 

all  very  glad;  and  uncle  Amos  particularly 
seemed  to  experience  the  deepest  satisfaction. 

"If  he  comes  into  Jerusalem,"  said  he,  warmly, 
"he  shall  be  my  guest.  Bid  him  to  my  roof,  O 
John,  that  my  household  may  be  blessed  in  hav- 
ing a  Prophet  of  God  step  across  its  threshold." 

"Oh,  by  all  means  do  not  forget  to  ask  him  to 
remain  through  the  Passover  with  us,"  exclaimed. 
Mary,  earnestly  looking  up  into  the  young  dis- 
ciple's face,  and  laying  her  hands  confidingly 
upon  his  wrist. 

"I  will  tell  my  beloved  Master  thy  wish,  Rabbi 
Amos,"  answered  John.  "Doubtless,  as  he  has 
no  home,  nor  friends  in  the  city,  he  will  remain 
under  your  roof." 

"Say  not  no  friends!"  I  exclaimed.  "We  are 
all  his  friends  here,  and  fain  would  be  his  dis- 
ciples." 

"What!  Rabbi  Amos  also?"  cried  John,  with 
a  glance  of  pleasurable  surprise  at  the  venerable 
Priest  of  God. 

"Yes,  I  am  ready;  after  all  that  I  have  heard 
and  seen,  I  am  ready  to  confess  him  a  Prophet 
sent  from  God." 

"Yes,  he  is  more  than  a  prophet,  O  Rabbi 
Amos!"  answered  John.  "Never  prophet  does 
the  works  Jesus  does.  It  seems  that  all  power  is 
at  his  command.  If  you  witnessed  what  I  wit- 
ness daily,  as  he  traverses  Judea,  you  would  say 
that  he  was  Jehovah  descended  to  earth  in  human 
form!" 

"Nay,  do  not  blaspheme,  young  man,"  said 
Rabbi  Amos,  with  some  severity  of  reproof. 


800          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

John  bowed  his  head  in  reverence  to  the  re- 
buke of  the  Rabbi,  but  nevertheless  answered  re- 
spectfully and  firmly,  "Never  man  did  like  him. 
If  he  be  not  God  in  the  flesh,  he  is  an  angel  in 
flesh  invested  with  divine  power." 

"If  he  be  the  Messias,"  I  said,  "he  cannot  be 
an  angel;  for  are  not  the  prophecies  clear  that 
Messias  shall  be  'a  man  of  sorrows?'  Is  he  not 
to  be  'the  seed  of  the  woman?'  a  man  and  not  an 
angel?" 

"Yes,"  answered  John,  "you  remember  well 
the  prophecies.  I  firmly  believe  Jesus  to  be  the 
Messiah,  the  Son  of  God.  Yet,  what  he  is  more 
than  man,  what  he  is  less  than  God,  is  incompre- 
hensible to  me  and  to  my  fellow-disciples.  We 
wonder,  love,  and  adore!  At  one  moment  we 
feel  like  embracing  him  into  our  arms  as  a 
brother  deary  beloved;  at  another,  we  are  ready 
to  fall  at  his  feet  and  worship  him !  I  have  seen 
him  weep  at  beholding  the  miseries  of  the  dis- 
eased wretches  which  were  dragged  into  his 
presence,  and  then  with  a  touch — with  a  word, 
heal  them:  and  they  would  stand  before  him  in 
the  purity  and  beauty  of  health  and  strong  man- 
hood! I  have  seen  him  with  a  voice  of  com- 
mand, as  never  man  spake,  expel  devils  from 
those  who  were  possessed  by  them :  and  I  have 
heard  the  devils  submissively  beg  not  to  be  sent 
to  their  own  place,  but  to  be  permitted  by  him  to 
remain  roaming  still  in  the  air  and  on  the  earth, 
until  the  hour  of  their  final  sentence  shall  pro- 
ceed' from  the  lips  of  God.  Even  the  devils  are 
thus  subject  unto  him,  so  mighty  is  his  power ; 


THE  PKINCE  OF  THE   HOUSE   OP  DAVID  fK)4 

ami  all  diseases  disappear  before  his  eye,  Hke  tfat 
foul  air  of  the  fens  before  the  beams  of  the  morn- 
ing sun!" 

"And  yet,"  said  Nicodemus,  a  rich  Pharisee 
listened  without  interrupting,  for  it  is  his  wont 
to  come  in  and  out  .«.;,  he  will,  being  a  friend  of 
my  uncle,  "r.nd  yet,  young  .nan,  I  heard  you  say 
that  Jesus,  of  *  /horn  you  and  all  men  relate  such 
mighty  deeds,  has  remained  at  Bethany  to  re- 
cover from  his  fatigue.  How  can  a  man  who 
holds  all  sickness  in  his  power  be  subject  to  mere 
weariness  of  body?  I  would  say  unto  him,  Phy- 
sician, heal  thyself!" 

This  was  spoken  with  a  tone  of  incredulity  by 
this  learned  ruler  of  the  Jews;  and  stroking  his 
snowy  beard,  he  waited  of  John  a  reply ;  for  like 
many  of  the  chief  men,  nay,  most  of  them,  he  was 
hard  to  believe  all  he  heard  of  Jesus;  for  as  yet 
he  had  not  seen  him;  nor  would  he  be  likely  to 
visit  him  were  he  to  come  into  the  city,  in  order 
to  see  for  himself,  lest  his  popularity  among  the 
Jews  be  diminished;  for  he  is  a  man  of  remark- 
able ambition,  and  aims  one  day  to  be  the  chief 
governor  of  the  people;  therefore  though  he 
should  really  be  convinced  that  Jesus  is  the  Mes- 
sias,  I  fear  he  would  not  have  candor  enough, 
for  fear  of  the  Jews,  to  confess  it.  Such  is  my 
opinion  of  my  uncle's  friend,  the  rich  and 
powerful  Pharisee.  But  John  answered  him  and 
said: 

"So  far  as  I  can  learn  the  character  and  power 
of  Jesus,  his  power  over  diseases  is  not  for  his 
own  good,  but  for  the  benefit  of  the  multitude, 


202          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

He  uses  his  power  to  work  miracles  to  do  good 
to  others  from  love  and  compassion,  and  to  show 
forth  the  divine  power  in  him.  His  miracles  are 
used  only  as  the  proofs  of  his  Messiahship.  Be- 
ing a  man  with  this  divine  power  dwelling  in  him, 
for  us,  he  is  subject  to  infirmities  as  a  man;  he 
hungers,  thirsts,  wearies,  suffers,  as  a  man.  I 
have  seen  him  heal  a  nobleman's  son  and  restore 
him  to  strength  and  activity  by  a  word,  and  the 
next  moment  seat  himself,  supporting  his  aching 
head  upon  his  hand,  looking  pale  and  languid, 
and  without  strength;  for  his  labors  of  love  are 
vast,  and  he  is  often  overcome  by  them,  those 
who  follow  him  to  be  healed  not  giving  him  time 
to  repose  at  night.  Once,  Simon  Peter,  seeing 
him  ready  to  sink  with  very  weariness,  after  heal- 
ing all  day,  asked  him  and  said:  'Master,  thou 
givest  strength  to  others,  why  sutler  thyself 
when  all  health  and  strength  are  in  thee,  as  in  a 
living  well,  to  be  weary!' 

"  'It  is  not  mine  to  escape  human  infirmities 
by  any  power  my  Father  hath  bestowed  upon  me 
for  the  good  of  men.  It  behooves  me  to  suffer 
all  things.  Through  suffering  only  can  I  draw 
all  men  after  me!'  " 

John  said  this  so  sadly,  as  if  he  were  repeating 
the  very  tones  in  which  Jesus  had  spoken  it,  that 
we  all  remained  silent  for  a  few  moments.  I  felt 
tears  fill  my  eyes,  and  I  was  glad  to  see  the  proud 
Pharisee,  Nicodemus,  looked  moved.  After  a 
full  minute's  serious  pause,  he  said: 

"This  man  is  doubtless  no  common  prophet. 
When  he  comes  into  the  city  I  shall  be  glad  to 


THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  203f 

Jiear  from  his  own  mouth  his  doctrines,  and  to 
witness  some  potent  miracle." 

"Surely,"  said  Amos,  "if  he  be  in  truth  a 
prophet,  we  ought  not  to  reject  him.  We  ought 
to  examine  fairly  his  claims  to  be  sent  from  God 
to  our  people." 

"Certainly,"  answered  Nicodemus,  "we  Phar- 
isees are  ready  to  give  him  a  fair  hearing.  It 
would  seem  that  by  coming  to  Jerusalem  from 
the  provinces,  where  hitherto  he  has  been 
preaching  and  doing  miracles,  he  means  to 
challenge  the  whole  people  to  acknowledge  him 
as  a  prophet." 

"Prophet  he  is,  without  doubt,"  answered 
Amos.  "It  is  not  the  question  now  whether  he 
be  a  prophet  or  not,  for  the  hundreds  he  has 
healed  are  living  witnesses  that  he  has  the  spirit 
and  power  of  the  old  prophets,  and  is  truly  a 
prophet.  The  question  that  remains  is,  whether 
he  be  the  Messiah,  or  not?" 

Nicodemus  slowly  and  negatively  shook  his 
head,  and  then  answered: 

"Messias  cometh  not  out  of  Galilee." 

"He  will  prove  himself  to  be  Messias  with 
power,"  answered  my  cousin  John,  with  zeaL 
"When  you  hear  him  speak,  Rabbi  Nicodemus, 
the  grace  of  his  lips,  and  the  depths  of  his  wis- 
dom, will  charm  you  into  belief;  and  without 
miracles  you  will  acknowledge  that  he  is  the 
Christ." 

At  this  moment,  a  sudden,  wild,  joyful  cry  from 
Mary,  thrilled  our  nerves,  and,  looking  towards 
the  door,  we  saw  her  folded  in  the  arms  of  a 


204;          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

young  man  whom  I  had  never  seen  before.  My 
surprise  had  not  time  to  form  itself  into  any  def- 
inite opinion  of  what  I  saw,  when  I  beheld  the 
young  man,  who  was  exceedingly  handsome,  and 
the  picture  of  health,  after  kissing  the  clinging 
Mary  upon  her  cheeks,  leave  her  to  throw  him- 
self into  the  arms  of  Rabbi  Amos,  crying: 
.  "My  father,  my  dear  father!" 

My  uncle,  who  had  stood  amazed,  and  wonder- 
Ingly  gazing  on  him,  as  if  he  could  not  believe 
what  his  eyes  beheld,  now  burst  into  profound 
expressions  of  grateful  joy,  and  as  he  clasped  the 
young  stranger  to  his  heart,  fell  upon  his  neck, 
and  wept,  with  scarcely  power  to  articulate  the 
words : 

"My  son!  my  son!  Lost,  but  found  again! 
This  is  the  Lord's  doing,  and  is  marvelous  in  our 
eyes." 

John  also  embraced  the  new-comer,  while  the 
Ruler  stood  silent  with  wonder.  Who  the  young 
man  was  whose  arrival  was  producing  such 
emotion,  and  why  he  should  be  hailed  as  a  son 
by  my  uncle  Amos,  I  had  no  idea;  and  while  I 
was  looking  bewildered  upon  the  scene,  Mary 
ran  and  said  to  me,  with  tears  of  gladness  shin- 
ing in  her  dark  eyes: 

"It  is  Benjamin,  my  lost  brother,  beloved 
Adina!" 

"I  did  not  know  you  had  a  brother,"  I  an- 
swered in  surprise. 

"We  have  long  regarded  him  as  dead,"  she 
replied,  with  mingled  emotions.  "Seven  years 
ago  he  became  lunatic,  and  fled  to  the  tombs 


THE   PPONCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  205 

without  the  city,  where  he  has  long  dwelt  with 
many  others  who  were  possessed  with  devils. 
For  years  he  has  been  a  madman,  and  has  neither 
spoken  to  nor  known  us,  and  we  have  tried  to 
forget  that  he  lived,  since  to  remember,  it  made 
us  miserable,  without  hope  of  his  restoration. 
But  oh,  now  behold  him!  It  seems  a  vision! 
See  how  manly,  noble,  like  himself,  he  is,  with 
the  same  sweet  smile  and  smiling  eyes." 

She  then  flew  to  take  him  by  the  hand  and  lead 
him  towards  me,  all  eyes  being  fixed  upon  him, 
as  if  he  had  been  a  spirit. 

When  he  saw  their  wondering  gaxe,  he  said: 

"It  is  I,  both  son  ?.nd  brother  to  those  dearest 
to  me.  I  am  in  my  right  mind,  and  well." 

"Who  has  effected  this  change,  so  extraordi- 
nary, oh,  my  son?"  inquired  Rabbi  Amos,  With 
trembling  lips,  and  keeping  his  hand  on  Benja- 
min's shoulder,  as  if  he  feared  he  would  vanish 
away. 

"It  was  Jesus,  the  Prophet  of  the  Highest," 
answered  he,  with  solemn  gratitude. 

"Jesus !"  we  all  exclaimed  in  one  voice. 

"I  could  have  said  so,"  answered  cousin  John, 
calmly.  "I  needed  not  to  ask  who  had  effected 
this  great  work  upon  him.  Nicodemus,  thou 
knowest  this  young  man  well !  thou  hast  known 
him  in  childhood,  and  beheld  him  in  the  madness 
of  his  lunacy,  among  the  tombs.  Dost  thou 
doubt  now,  whether  Jesus  be  the  very  Christ?" 

Nicodemus  made  no  reply;  but  I  saw  from  the 
(expression  of  his  face  that  he  believed. 

"How  was  this  thing  done  to  thee,  young 


206          THE   PIUNCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

man?"  he  asked,  with  a  deep  interest  and  visible 
emotion. 

"I  was  wandering  near  Bethany  this  morning," 
answered  the  lost  and  restored  one,  with  modesty 
and  feeling,  "when  I  beheld  a  crowd  which  I 
madly  followed.  As  I  drew  near,  I  beheld  in 
their  midst  a  man,  whom  I  had  no  sooner  cast 
my  eyes  upon,  than  I  felt  seize  me  an  ungovern- 
able propensity  to  destroy  him.  The  same  fury 
possessed  seven  others,  my  comrades  in  madness, 
and  together,  with  one  mind  and  will,  we  rushed 
upon  him,  with  great  stones  and  knives  in  our 
hands.  The  crowd  gave  way  and  fell  back 
aghast,  and  called  him  to  save  himself.  But  he 
moved  not,  but,  left  alone  in  a  wide  space,  stood 
calmly  awaiting  us.  We  were  within  a  few  feet 
of  him,  and  I  was  nearest,  ready  to  strike  him  to 
the  earth,  when  he  quietly  lifted  one  finger,  and 
said  "Peace!"  We  stood  immovable,  without 
power  to  stir  a  foot,  while  our  rage  and  hatred 
increased  with  our  inability  to  harm  him.  We 
howled  and  foamed  at  the  mouth  before  him,  for 
we  then  knew  that  He  was  the  Son  of  God,  come 
to  destroy  us. 

"  'Come  out  of  the  men,  and  depart  quickly!' 
he  said,  in  a  tone  of  command,  as  if  to  us,  but 
really  to  the  demons  within  us.  At  his  word  I 
fell  at  his  feet  in  a  dreadful  convulsion,  and  my 
whole  body  writhed,  as  if  it  had  been  wrestling 
with  an  invisible  demon.  Jesus  then  stooped 
and  laid  his  hand  upon  my  brow,  and  said,  'Son, 
arise!  Thou  art  made  whole!' 

"At  these  words  a  black  cloud  seemed  to  be 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  207 

I 

lifted  from  my  mind,  and  to  disappear;  the  glory 
-of  a  new  existence  appeared  to  dawn  upon  my 
soul,  while  his  voice  melted  my  heart  within  me. 
Bursting  into  tears,  the  first  I  have  shed  for 
seven  years,  I  fell  at  his  feet  and  kissed  them,  and 
embraced  them,  wholly  overcome  with  a  new 
sense  of  peace,  and  of  inward  happiness* 
unspeakable. 

"  'Go  thy  way,  and  fear  God,  that  thou  fall  not 
a  second  time  into  this  captivity  to  Satan!'  he 
said,  raising  me  to  my  feet.  I  then  followed  him, 
rejoicing  and  blessing  God,  until  he  entered  the 
house  of  a  Centurion,  near  Bethany,  when  I 
hastened  hither,  to  gladden  your  hearts  with  the 
sight  of  me  restored  to  my  right  mind." 

When  Benjamin  had  done  speaking,  we  all 
gave  glory  to  God,  who  had  given  him  back  to 
us.  and  who  had  sent  so  great  a  prophet  among 
men.  As  Nicodemus  took  his  leave,  I  overheard 
him,  congratulating  the  happy  father,  say,  that  he 
should  embrace  the  first  opportunity  to  have  an 
interview  with  Jesus;  and  when  my  uncle  told 
him  that  he  hoped  to  entertain  the  mighty 
Prophet  as  his  guest,  the  Ruler  desired  permis- 
sion to  visit  him  here  upon  his  arrival,  ''but 
secretly,"  I  heard  him  add,  in  Rabbi  Amos's  ear, 
as  he  took  his  leave. 

I  commenced  this  letter,  dearest  father,  by  an 
allusion  to  a  great  commotion,  which  is  agitating 
the  whole  city,  and  which  was  caused  by  an  act 
of  power  on  the  part  of  the  Prophet  Jesus,  who, 
this  morning,  two  hours  ago,  entered  the  city, 
and  proceeded  at  once  to  the  Temple,  followed 


208          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OP   DAVID.  > 

V 

through  the  streets  by  an  innumerable  multitude,* 
such  as  was  never  known  in  Jerusalem  before.! 
But  as  I  have  taken  up  so  much  of  this  letter, 
in  relating  what  passed  yesterday  in  the  hall  of 
the  Fountain,  I  will  leave  the  account  of  the 
tumult,  the  voices  of  which  are  still  to  be  heard, 
for  my  next  letter,  which  I  shall  write  this  even- 
ing; for  now,  that  all  events  are  so  interesting 
connected  with  the  great  Prophet  Christ,  I  shall 
write  to  you  almost  daily,  that  I  may  keep  you 
advised  of  all  things  that  come  to  pass,  even  as 
you  desired  me  to  do.  This  request,  dear  father, 
filled  me  with  joy.  It  was  an  assurance  to  me 
that  you  have  begun  to  take  an  interest  in  these 
wonderful  things  concerning  Messias,  and  it 
leads  me  secretly  to  hope  that  you  may  yet  be- 
lieve in  Him,  and  accept  Him  as  the  Anointed 
One  of  God,  which,  without  doubt,  he  is,  as  both 
his  words  and  his  mighty  works  do  testify. 

When  I  get  a  package  of  letters  made  up,  I 
shall  send  them  by  Israel  Ben  Judah,  with  the 
caravan  that  leaves  eight  days  after  the  Passover. 

May  the  God  of  our  Fathers  be  with  you,  and 
bless  you,  and  all  the  holy  people  of  the  Promise. 

LYour  loving  daughter, 

ADINA. 


BETTER  XVII. 

My  Dear  Father: — The  last  letter  which  I  settf 
to  you,  was  written  during  an  extraordinary 
tumult  which  prevailed  in  the  city,  an  account  of 
which  I  promised  to  give  you  in  the  present  one. 
I  will  do  so  now.  When,  on  the  morning  of  the 
Passover,  it  was  noised  abroad  that  the  Prophet 
of  Galilee  was  entering  the  city  by  the  gate  of 
Jericho,  the  whole  city  was  stirred,  and  from  the 
houses  and  shops  poured  forth  crowds,  which 
turned  their  steps  in  that  direction.  Mary  and  I 
went  upon  the  house-top,  hoping  to  see  some- 
thing; but  far  and  near  was  visible  only  a  sea  of 
heads,  from  which  a  deep  murmuring  arose,  like 
the  ceaseless  voice  of  the  ocean  chafing  upon  a 
rocky  shore.  The  top  of  the  gate-way  was 
visible  from  the  place  where  we  stood:  but  it  was 
black  with  the  people  who  had  crowded  upon  it 
to  look  down.  There  was  lieard,  at  length,  an 
immense  shout,  as  of  one  voice,  which  was  fol- 


210          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

lowed  by  a  swaying  and  onward  pressure  of  the 
crowds. 

"The  prophet  must  have  entered  the  gate," 
said  my  cousin  Mary,  breathlessly.  "How  they 
do  him  honor !  It  is  the  reception  of  a  king !" 

We  were  in  hopes  he  would  pass  by  our  house, 
as  we  were  on  one  of  the  chief  thoroughfares ;  but 
were  disappointed,  as  he  took  the  way  round  the 
foot  of  Mount  Zion,  and  ascended  the  hill  of 
Moriah  to  the  Temple.  A  part  of  the  ascent  to 
the  house  of  the  Lord  is  visible  from  our  roof, 
and  we  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  Prophet 
at  a  distance.  We  knew  him,  only  because  he 
was  in  advance,  and  the  people,  while  they 
walked  near  him,  yet  left  him  a  little  space.  The 
nighest  one  to  him,  Mary  said,  was  her  cousin 
John,  though  at  the  distance  I  could  not  have 
recognized  him ;  but  the  eyes  of  maidenly  affec- 
tion, though  mild  as  the  dove's,  are  as  piercing 
as  the  eagle's.  The  head  of  the  multitude  dis- 
appeared beneath  the  arch  of  the  Temple,  and 
thousands  upon  thousands  followed  after;  and,  in 
the  rear,  rode  the  young  Roman  Centurion, 
whom  I  have  before  spoken  of,  at  the  head  of 
four  hundred  horse,  to  keep  order  in  the  vast 
mass.  Mary  could  not  recognize  him,  saying  it 
was  too  far  to  tell  who  he  was ;  but  I  knew  him, 
not  only  by  his  air  and  bearing,  but  by  his  scarlet 
pennon,  that  fluttered  from  his  iron  lance,  and 
which  I  had"  bestowed  upon  him ;  for  he  told  me 
he  had  lost  one  his  fair  Roman  sister,  Tullia,  had 
given  him,  and,  as  he  so  much  regretted  its  loss, 
I  supplied  its  place  by  another,  worked  by  my 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  211 

own  hands.  As  this  was  an  act  of  kindness  only, 
to  a  stranger,  dear  father,  I  know  you  will  not 
disapprove  of  it;  though  being  done  for  an  idola- 
ter may  not  please  you.  But  I  am  full  of  hope, 
dear  father,  that  this  noble  and  excellent  youth 
may  yet  become  a  Jew;  for  he  loves  to  listen  to 
my  teachings  from  the  Prophets,  and  last  week 
he  told  me  that  he  could  never  weary  hearing  me 
read  to  him  from  the  books  of  Moses,  and  from 
the  sublime  Psalms  of  King  David;  which,  he 
says,  surpass  any  poems,  either  in  his  own 
tongue,  or  the  Greek.  Thus,  by  attention  and 
forbearance  I  assuredly  believe  that  he  may  be 
led  to  renounce  his  idolatrous  faith,  and  become 
a  worshiper  of  the  God  of  Hosts. 

The  multitude,  as  many  as  could  gain  admis- 
sion, having  entered  the  great  gate  of  the 
Temple,  for  a  few  minutes  there  was  a  profound 
stillness.  Mary  said: 

"He  is  worshiping,  or  sacrificing,  now." 

"Perhaps,"  I  said,  "he  is  addressing  the  people, 
and  they  listen  to  his  words." 

While  I  was  speaking,  there  arose  from  the 
bosom  of  the  Temple,  a  loud,  irregular,  strange 
outcry,  of  a  thousand  voices,  pitched  to  high 
excitement.  The  people  without  the  gate 
responded  by  a  universal  shout,  and  then  we  be- 
held those  nighest  the  walls  retreat  down  the  hill- 
side in  terrified  confusion,  while,  to  increase  the 
tumult,  the  Roman  horse  charged  up  the  hill, 
seeking  to  penetrate  through  the  masses,  to 
reach  the  gate  out  of  which  the  people  poured 
like  a  living  and  tempest-tossed  river,  before 


212          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

which  the  head  of  the  cohort  recoiled,  or  was 
overwhelmed  and  down-trodden!  I  held  my 
breath  in  dreadful  suspense,  not  knowing  the 
cause  of  the  fearful  scene  we  beheld,  nor  to  what 
it  might  lead.  Mary,  who  knew  both  her  father, 
and  her  cousin  and  betrothed  were  exposed  to 
whatsoever  danger  was  threatening  those  who 
had  gone  into  the  Temple,  became  overcome  by 
her  apprehensions  of  evil  to  them,  and,  burying 
her  face  in  her  hands,  she  sunk  down  almost  in- 
sensible by  my  side.  My  attention  was  then 
drawn  to  her,  away  from  the  scene  on  Mount 
Moriah,  and,  leading  her  down  into  the  apart- 
ments of  the  house,  I  saw  no  more  of  what  fol- 
lowed. But  a  quarter  of  an  hour  had  not  passed, 
when  Samuel  Ben  Azel,  who  had,  the  day  before, 
come  up  from  Nain,  to  the  Passover,  with  his 
mother,  who  is  a  distant  relative  of  Rabbi 
Amos,  entered,  and  explained  to  us  the  cause  of 
the  scene  I  had  witnessed,  assuring  Mary,  at  the 
same  time,  of  the  safety,  both  of  her  cousin  and 
her  father.  His  account  was  thus: 

"The  Prophet  Jesus  having  entered  into  the 
Temple,  with  the  multitudes  following  him  to  see 
what  he  would  do,  found  all  the  courts  filled  with 
merchants,  changers  of  money,  and  sellers  of 
cattle  to  the  sacrificers.  Portions  of  the  sacred 
place  were  divided  off  by  fences,  in  which  thous- 
ands of  sheep  and  cattle  were  stalled;  and  be- 
tween almost  every  two  colunms  of  the  vast  por- 
tico, sat  at  their  tables,  men,  whose  business  it 
was  to  change  the  foreign  money  brought  by  the 
Jews  from  Greece,  Egypt,  Elam,  Parthia,  and 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  213 

Africa,  who  had  come  up  to  the  Passover,  for 
Jerusalem  and  Roman  coin,  which  only  the  sell- 
ers of  the  cattle  and  sheep  will  receive  for  what 
they  sell.  On  his  way  to  the  inner  Temple,  the 
Prophet  found  his  path  so  obstructed  by  the 
stalls  and  the  tables  of  the  brokers,  that  he  had 
to  go  round  them,  and  often  turn  back  and  take 
a  less  hedged-up  avenue.  At  length,  finding 
upon  the  very  lintel  of  the  Court  of  the  Priests,  a 
priest  himself  engaged  at  a  table  as  a  money- 
changer, and  near  him  a  Levite,  keeping  a  stall 
for  selling  doves  and  sparrows  to  the  worshipers, 
he  stopped  upon  the  step,  and,  turning  round, 
cast  his  calm,  terrible  eye  (for  it  was  terribb  then, 
mild  as  it  was  before),  over  the  scene  of  noisy 
commerce  and  bartering.  Every  face  was  turned 
towards  him  in  expectation.  The  half-completed 
bargain  was  suspended,  and  buyer  and  seller  di- 
rected their  gaze,  as  by  a  sort  of  fascination,  not 
unmingled  with  a  strange  awe  and  fear,  upon 
him.  Those  who  had  crowded  about  him,  drew 
back  farther  and  farther,  slowly,  but  irresistibly 
widening  the  space  between  them  and  him,  they 
knew  not  by  what  impulse,  till  he  stood  alone, 
save  nearest  him  was  John,  his  disciple.  The 
uproar  of  buying  and  selling  suddenly  subsided, 
and  even  the  loud  lowing  of  the  cattle,  and  the 
bleeting  of  the  sheep,  stopped,  as  if  a  supernat- 
ural awe  had  seized  even  the  brute  creation  at 
his  presence;  and  only  the  soft  cooing  of  doves 
stirred  the  vast,  death-like  stillness  of  the  place, 
but  a  moment  before  a  scene  of  oaths,  cries, 
shouts,  running  to  and  fro,  buying  and  selling, 


214          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

the  ringing  of  money,  and  the  buzz  of  ten  thous- 
and voices.  It  was  as  if  a  hurricane,  sweeping 
with  deafening  uproar  of  the  elements  over  the 
lashed  ocean,  had  been  suddenly  arrested,  and 
followed  by  a  great  calm.  The  silence  was  dread- 
ful! It  stopped  the  very  beating  of  my  heart. 
Every  eye  of  the  vast  multitude  seemed  to  fasten 
itself  on  the  Prophet,  in  expectation  of  some 
dread  event.  I  thought  of  the  world  hereafter  to 
be  assembled  before  the  tribunal  of  Jehovah, 
awaiting  their  sentence.  The  step  of  the  Temple 
upon  which  he  stood  seemed  to  be  a  throne,  and 
the  people  before  him  expecting  judgment. 
Suddenly,  the  silence,  which  had  become  op- 
pressive, was  broken  by  a  young  man  near  me, 
who  gave  vent  to  his  feelings  by  a  piercing 
shriek,  and  fell  insensible  upon  the  marble  floor. 
There  was  a  general  thrill  of  horror,  yet  the  same 
awful  stillness  succeeded  this  startling  interrup- 
tion. That  one  intense  shriek  had  spoken  for  us 
all,  given  expression  and  outlet  to  what  we  all 
felt.  Suddenly,  the  voice  of  the  Prophet  was 
heard,  clear,  authoritative,  and  ringing  like  the 
trumpet  that  shook  Sinai  when  the  Law  was 
given,  and  made  all  the  people  to  quake: 

"  'It  is  written,  my  Father's  house  shall  be 
called  a  House  of  Prayer!  but  ye  have  made  it  a 
den  of  thieves!' 

"He  then  picked  up  from  the  pavement  at  his 
feet  a  small  cord,  which  some  one  had  thrown 
down,  and,  doubling  it  in  the  form  of  a  scourge, 
he  advanced.  Before  him  fled  the  changers  of 
money,  priest,  and  Levite,  sellers  of  oxen,  sellers 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID.          215 

t>f  sheep,  and  sellers  of  doves,  escaping  in  such 
haste  from  the  terrible  displeasure  of  his  counte- 
nance, that  they  left  their  property  to  its  fate, 
seeking  only  their  personal  safety. 

"  Take  these  things  hence/  he  cried,  'make 
not  my  Father's  house  a  house  of  merchandise!' 

"Such  a  scene  of  confusion  and  flight  was 
never  witnessed  as  now  followed!  The  whole 
mass  was  in  retrograde  motion.  I  was  borne 
along  with  the  current.  Money-tables  were 
overturned  on  all  sides;  but  not  the  most  avari- 
cious thought,  at  that  moment,  of  stopping  to 
gather  any  of  the  gold  and  silver  which  the  rush- 
ing thousands  trampled  beneath  their  feet.  It 
was  not  the  whip  of  small  cords  before  which  we 
fled,  for  he  touched  no  man  therewith;  but  it  was 
from  his  presence!  We  were  driven  like  chaff 
before  him.  To  the  eyes  of  all,  the  little  whip 
seemed  to  blaze  and  flash  above  their  heads,  as  if 
it  were  the  fiery  sword  of  the  destroying  angel. 
Nothing  but  terror,  flight,  escape,  was  thought 
of.  In  a  few  moments,  the  Priest's  Court  of  the 
Temple  was  cleared  of  every  soul,  and  we  were 
driven  across  the  Court  of  Israel,  and  the  broader 
Court  of  the  Gentiles,  towards  the  south  gate. 
On  looking  back,  I  saw  that  the  prophet  no 
longer  pursued,  but  stood  alone,  Master  and 
Lord  of  the  Temple.  The  whip  was  no  longer 
in  his  hand;  and  his  whole  attitude  and  expres- 
sion of  face  was  changed  from  that  of  their  late 
terrible  power,  to  an  air  of  the  profoundest  com- 
passion, as  he  looked  after  us,  still  flying  from  his 
presence. 


216          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

"But  I  had  no  time  to  marvel  at  this  extraor- 
dinary change,  for  the  multitude  still  sought  to 
escape,  and  bore  me  onward,  and  I  lost  sight  of 
him.  At  the  gate  we  were  met  by  a  cohort  of 
Pilate's  cavalry,  and  pressed  backward  into  the 
Temple.  The  scene  now  became  appalling. 
What,  with  the  Roman  spears  in  front,  and  the 
Prophet  behind,  the  multitude  fearing  to  go 
either  way,  trode  one  upon  another,  trampled  the 
weak  under  foot,  and  filled  the  air  with  curses, 
shrieks,  and  horrible  outcries,  of  mingled  pain, 
rage  and  terror.  How  I  escaped,  I  know  not," 
added  Samuel,  as  he  completed  his  narration, 
"but,  on  finding  myself  outside  of  the  gate,  I  at 
once,  with  hundreds,  sought  shelter  in  the  city, 
and  happy  am  I  to  have  reached  this  place  of 
security;  for  the  Romans  are  scouring  the  streets, 
driving  all  the  people  into  their  houses." 

When  Samuel  had  ended,  and  we  were  won- 
idering  at  this  new  exhibition  of  the  mighty  power 
of  the  Prophet  Jesus,  the  street  in  front  of  pur 
dwelling  was  filled  with  persons  seeking  their 
homes.  Some  cried,  "the  terrible  Prophet!" 
others,  "the  Romans!"  and  some,  by  their  out- 
cries, seemed  to  fly  from  equal  fear  of  both.  In 
the  midst  of  this  tumult,  dear  father,  I  sat  down 
to  write  you  my  last  letter,  while  the  events  were 
fresh,  and  lest  other  events  should  come  in  and 
crowd  these  from  my  mind. 

Ah,  my  dear  father,  Jesus  of  Nazareth  must  be, 
indeed,  invested  with  powers  divine!  He,  who, 
with  a  word  and  a  look,  for  the  whip  in  his  hand 
could  not,  says  Rabbi  Amos,  have  hurt  a  child* 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.          217 

can  thus  impel  thousands  of  men  before  him, 
could  make  the  whole  world  fly  from  the  terrible 
majesty  of  his  presence!  My  uncle,  Rabbi 
Amos,  who,  on  his  return  from  the  Temple,  cor- 
roborated what  Samuel  had  stated,  added,  that  as 
Jesus  stood  alone,  possessor  of  the  gold-strewn 
tloors  of  the  Courts  of  the  Temple,  the  High 
Priest  advanced  towards  him,  and  with  awe,  not 
unmixed  with  anger,  demanded  of  him  by  what 
authority  he  did  these  things,  seeing  that  he  took 
upon  himself  to  purify  the  Temple. 

His  answer  was,  "My  Father's  House  must 
not  be  made  a  house  of  merchandise.  Zeal  for 
the  glory  of  His  Temple  hath  caused  me  to  do 
these  things." 

"Art  thou  the  Christ?"  asked  the  High  Priest, 
still  standing  some  distance  off  from  him. 

"If  I  tell  thee  that  I  am,  ye  will  not  believe." 

"When  Christ  shall  come,  he  will  restore  all 
things,"  answered  the  High  Priest. 

"And  I  have  begun  this  restoration  by  expel- 
ling from  the  Temple  those  who  defile  it,  and 
restoring  it  to  be  a  House  of  Prayer,  according 
as  my  father  hath  ordained." 

"And  who  is  thy  father?"  asked  Caiaphas. 

"God  is  my  Father;  and  to  do  His  will  am  I 
sent  into  the  world.  I  came  not  of  myself,  but 
my  Father  sent  me.  It  is  written  of  me,  'He 
shall  suddenly  come  to  His  Temple,  and  be  as  a 
purifier  and  refiner  of  silver.' 

"What  sign  showest  thou  that  thou  art  sent, 
and  hast  authority  to  do  what  thou  doest  here 
to-day  within  the  Temple?" 


218         THE  PRINCE  Otf  >TflE  HODSE  OP  DAVID. 

"Hast  thou  not  had  proof  of  my  power  from 
heaven,"  answered  Jesus,  stretching  forth  his 
hand  towards  the  still  terror-stricken  multitude. 
"Destroy  this  temple,  and  in  three  days  I  will 
raise  it  up!  Be  this  to  you,  and  all  Judea,  the 
sign  that  I  am  sent  by  my  Father,  who  is  in 
heaven.  As  He  hath  given  me  commandment, 
so  I  do!" 

At  this  there  was  a  great  murmuring,  said 
Rabbi  Amos,  for  many  of  the  priests,  with  Annas 
also,  had  got  boldness,  and  drew  near  to  hear. 

"He  cannot  be  a  just  man,"  said  Annas,  "nor 
doth  he  honor  God,  it  he  would  have  us  destroy 
the  Temple!" 

"Yet,  if  he  be  not  sent  of  God,  whence  hath  he 
tliis  power  over  men?"  answered  another. 

"He  doeth  this  by  Beelzebub,  whose  prophet 
he  doubtless  is,"  said  Annas,  in  a  loud  tone,  "for 
a  true  prophet  would  not  seek  the  destruction  of 
God's  holy  House!" 

Thereupon,  there  was  a  multitude  of  voices, 
some  crying  one  thing,  and  some  another;  but 
the  most  part  asserting  their  belief  that  Jesus  was 
a  just  man  and  divine  prophet.  Caiaphas  at 
length  obtained  silence,  and  said  to  him: 

"Tell  us  plainly— Art  thou  the  Christ,  the  Son 
of  the  Blessed,  that  we  may  believe  in  Thee?" 

"I  am!"  calmly  and  firmly  answered  the 
Prophet;  and,  raising  his  eyes  to  heaven,  he 
added,  impressively,  "I  am  come  down  from 
God!" 

When,  adds  my  uncle,  Annas   heard  this   he 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID.          219 

lifted  up  his  voice  in  an  exclamation  of  horror, 
and,  rending  his  clothes,  he  cried  out: 

"Hear  ye  this  blasphemer!  Let  us  cast  him 
forth  from  the  Temple,  which  he  pollutes !" 

But  no  man  dareth  approach  the  Prophet, 
whose  mighty  power  had  so  recently  been  ex- 
pressed in  the  expulsion  of  the  merchants  and 
buyers  from  that  sacred  place. 

"Bear  witness,"  then  said  he,  sorrowfully, 
rather  than  in  anger,  "that  I  have  come  unto  my; 
own,  and  ye  have  received  me  not!  This  Temple 
of  my  Father,  from  which  you  would  drive  me 
forth,  shall  no  longer  be  the  dwelling-place  and 
altar  of  Jehovah.  The  day  cometh  when  your 
priesthood  shall  be  taken  away  and  given  to 
others,  and  among  the  Gentiles  shall  arise  to  my 
Father's  name,  on  every  hill,  and  in  every  valley 
of  the  earth,  holy  temples,  wherein  he  shall  de- 
light to  dwell;  and  men  shall  no  longer  need  to 
to  worship  God  in  Zion,  but  in  all  places  shall 
prayer  and  praise  be  offered  to  the  Most  High. 
This  Temple,  which  ye  have  polluted,  shall  be 
thrown  down,  till  not  one  stone  remaineth  stand- 
ing upon  another;  and  ye  shall  be  scattered,  be- 
cause ye  knew  not  the  time  of  your  visitation?" 

Thus  speaking,  the  Prophet  quitted  the 
Temple,  leaving  the  High  Priest,  and  priests,  and 
Levites,  standing  gazing  after  him,  without 
power  to  utter  a  word.  Rabbi  Amos,  who  saw 
and  heard  all  this,  says  that  nothing  could  have 
been  more  striking  than  the  contrast  presented 
between  the  two  men,  the  High  Priest  and  Jesus 


220          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

(if  it  be  lawful  to  call  him  a  man,  dear  father),  as 
they  talked  with  each  other;  the  one  clothed  in 
magnificent  garments,  with  a  glittering  tiara 
upon  his  brows,  his  port  lofty  and  proud,  his  hair 
and  beard  white  as  snow,  and  his  whole  appear- 
ance majestic  and  splendid  with  outward  rich- 
ness! the  other,  youthful,  clad  in  coarse  garments, 
with  a  gray  Galilean  mantle  folded  about  him, 
sandals  much  worn  upon  his  feet,  and  his  whole 
garb  mean  and  covered  with  the  dust  of  his  jour- 
ney on  foot  from  Bethany;  while  the  severe  sad- 
ness of  his  face,  which  seemed  beautifully,  and 
touchingly  chastened  by  prayer  and  suffering, 
contrasted  strongly  with  the  stern,  harsh  face  of 
Caiaphas,  flushed  with  anger  and  envious 
hostility. 

"He  passed  out  of  the  Temple  with  an  even 
pace,  neither  looking  back  at  his  enemies,  nor 
followed  by  them.  I  beheld  John  join  him,  and 
hastened  to  ask  him  to  invite  him  to  my  house,  to 
sojourn  and  eat  the  Passover  with  me,  but  he  dis- 
appeared, and  I  lost  sight  of  him.  But,  at  the 
gate,  I  encountered  a  man,  leaping  and  singing, 
whom  the  Prophet  had  healed  by  a  touch,  as  he 
passed  out,  though  the  man  had  been  paralytic 
for  thirty-one  years.  Thus  does  this  mighty  per- 
son never  cease  to  do  good." 

Such,  my  dear  father,  is  the  account  given  by 
Rabbi  Amos  of  what  passed  in  the  Temple. 
That  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  is  now  beyond  question ; 
for  he  has  openly  acknowledged  it  to  the  High 
Priest. 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAVID.  221 

Adieu,  dearest  father.  The  servants  are  bring- 
ing in  boughs  for  the  booths,  and  I  must  close 
this  letter,  with  prayers  to  our  father's  God  for 
your  peace  and  welfare. 

ADINA. 


LETTER  XVIII. 

My  Dear  Father: — The  last  letter,  which  I  re- 
ceived by  the  hands  of  the  Roman  courier,  filled 
me  with  gratitude,  at  learning  from  it  your  recov- 
ery. When  I  heard  from  Ben  Israel  of  your  ill 
health,  I  felt  like  flying  with  the  wings  of  a  dove 
to  reach  your  pillow,  and  administer  to  the  com- 
fort of  the  venerated  and  loved  author  of  my 
being.  The  God  of  our  fathers  be  praised  in 
raising  you  up;  and  that  He  may  preserve  you 
long  to  me,  shall  be  my  daily  prayer. 

You  say  in  your  letter,  dear  father,  that  you 
have  read  with  interest  all  my  letters,  and  more 
especially  those  which  relate  to  Jesus  of  Galilee, 
the  mighty  Prophet  now  vouchsafed  to  Israel. 
You  say  that  you  are  ready  to  acknowledge  him 
as  a  prophet  sent  from  God,  "for  evidently  no 
man  could  do  such  great  works,  except  God  be 
with  him."  "But,"  you  add,  "while  I  am  ready, 
my  child,  to  recognize  him  as  a  prophet  of  the 
Lord,  I  am  far  from  seeing  in  him  the  Messias 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  223 

promised  to  our  people!  Aside  from  the  lowli- 
ness of  his  parentage,  and  his  humility  of  condi- 
tion, travelling  on  foot,  and  without  retinue  (while 
Messias  is  to  be  a  Prince  and  King),  he  can  have 
no  claim  to  be  the  Christ,  because  he  comes  out 
from  Galilee.  Doth  Messias  come  out  of  Galilee? 
Let  Rabbi  Amos,  who  seems  ready,  I  perceive, 
to  acknowledge  him  as  the  Christ,  let  him 
examine  the  writings  of  the  Prophets,  and  see! 
Hath  not  the  Scripture  said  that  Christ  cometh 
of  the  seed  of  David,  and  out  of  the  town  of  Beth- 
lehem, where  David  was?  Search  and  look,  for 
no  prophet,  much  less  Messias,  cometh  out  of 
Galilee." 

To  this  objection,  dear  father,  also  made,  I 
believe,  in  a  previous  letter,  Rabbi  Amos  desires 
me  to  say,  that  he  has  investigated  the  records  of 
births  kept  in  the  Temple,  and  finds,  as  I  have 
before  named  to  you,  that  Jesus  was  born  in 
Bethlehem.  He  afterwards  removed,  with  his 
parents,  to  Egypt,  and  thence  returning  to  Judea, 
settled  in  Galilee,  where  he  was  brought  up.  Of 
these  facts  in  his  history,  not  only  Rabbi  Amos 
is  satisfied,  but  Nicodemus  also,  whose  learning 
you  will  not  gainsay,  and  the  latter,  very  much  to 
our  surprise,  and  my  own  delight,  added,  yester- 
day, when  we  were  talking  over  the  subject  at 
supper,  "there  is  a  prophecy,  O,  Rabbi  Amos, 
which  strengthens  this  mighty  Prophet's  claim 
to  be  ths  Messiah." 

"What  is  it?  Let  me  hear  all  that  can 
strengthen!"  I  asked  earnestly;  not,  dear  father, 


224          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

that  my  confidence  in  him  needs  confirmation, 
but  I  wish  others  to  believe. 

"You  will  find  it  in  the  Prophet  Hoseas,"  an- 
swered Nicodemus,  "and  thus  it  readeth:  'I 
have  called  my  son  out  of  Egypt/  These  words 
refer  to  Messias,  without  question,  as  say  all  the 
doctors  of  the  law." 

"It  is  a  new  argument  for  Jesus,  then," 
answered  Rabbi  Amos. 

My  heart  bounded  with  joy,  dear  father,  at 
hearing  this  prophecy  named;  but  judge  my 
emotions  when  Nicodemus,  taking  the  roll  of  the 
Prophet  Isaiah  in  his  hand,  read  the  words  that 
follow,  and  applied  them  to  Jesus,  "Beyond  Jor- 
dan, in  Galilee  of  the  Gentiles,  the  people  which 
sat  in  darkness  have  seen  a  great  light!"  This 
changes  the  objections  to  his  coming  from  Egypt 
and  from  Galilee,  into  additional  proofs  of  his 
claims  to  be  the  Messias. 

I  hear  you  now  ask,  dear  father,  with  many  of 
the  rich  and  influential  citizens  of  Jerusalem, 
"Have  the  rulers  begun  to  believe  in  him?"  Yes, 
Nicodemus  does  begin  to  believe  that  He  is  the 
Christ,  being  more  and  more  assured  of  it  the 
more  he  examines  the  divine  Scriptures.  O,  my 
dear  father,  that  you  could  see  Jesus,  and  hear 
him  discourse,  as  I  have  done!  All  your  doubts 
would  then  be  dissipated,  and  you  would  be  will- 
ing to  sit  at  his  feet,  and  learn  of  him  the  words 
of  life.  How  shall  I  describe  him — how  shall  I 
cause  you  to  hear  and  see  him,  as  I  have  heard 
and  seen? 

In  my  last  letter,  I  informed  you  that  Rabbi 


THE  PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  225 

Amos  had  invited  him  to  sojourn  with  us  during 
the  Passover.  John,  the  cousin  of  Mary,  con- 
veyed to  him  the  invitation  of  my  uncle,  and  he 
graciously  accepted  it,  and  came  hither  yester- 
day, after  he  had  quitted  the  Temple,  from  which 
he  had  with  such  commanding  power  driven 
forth  the  merchants  and  money-changers. 

Hearing  the  rumor  flying  along  the  streets, 
"The  Prophet  comes!  the  Prophet  ccmes!" 
uttered  by  hundreds  of  voices  of  men  and  chil- 
dren, I  hastened  to  the  house-top,  which  com- 
manded a  view  of  the  street,  to  the  foot  of  the 
Temple.  The  whole  way  was  a  sea  of  heads. 
The  multitude  came  rolling  onward,  like  a 
mighty  river;  as  I  have  seen  the  dark  Nile  when 
pouring  its  freshening  floods  along  its  confined 
banks. 

Mary  stood  by  my  side.  We  tried  to  single 
out,  amid  the  advancing  throng,  the  central  per- 
son around  whom  undulated  the  sea  of  heads, 
and  whose  progress  gave  occasion  to  so  mighty  a 
commotion.  But  all  was  so  wildly  confused  with 
the  waving  of  palm  branches  that  we  could  dis- 
tinguish nothing  clearly.  While  I  was  straining 
my  gaze  to  make  out  the  form  of  the  Prophet, 
Mary  touched  me,  and  bac[e  me  look  in  the  oppo- 
site direction.  As  I  did  so,  1  beheld  jEmilius 
Tullius,  the  young  Roman  Centurion,  of  whom  I 
have  before  spoken,  now  Prefect  of  Pilate's  Le- 
gion, advancing  at  the  head  of  two  hundred 
horses,  at  full  spur,  in  order  to  meet  and  turn 
back  the  advancing  column  of  people. 

As  he  came  opposite  the  house,  he  looked  tip, 


226          THE  PRTOOfi  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

and  seeing  us  upon  the  parapet,  he  gracefully 
waved  his  gleaming  sword,  saluting  us,  and  was 
dashing  past,  when  Mary  cried  out: 

"Noble  sir,  there  is  no  insurrection,  as  some  of 
the  people  have  doubtless  told  thee,  but  this  vast 
crowd  moving  hitherward  is  only  an  escort  to  the 
Prophet  of  Nazareth,  who  cometh  to  be  my 
father's  guest." 

"I  have  orders  from  Pilate  to  arrest  him,  lady, 
as  a  disturber  of  the  peace  of  the  capital." 

"Shall  a  prophet  suffer  because  his  mighty 
deeds  draw  crowds  after  his  footsteps,  noble 
Roman?  If  thy  troops  advance,  there  will  be 
collision  with  the  people.  If  thou  wilt  withdraw 
them  a  little,  thou  wilt  see  that  when  the  Prophet 
crosses  my  father's  threshhold,  they  will  go  away 
in  peace." 

The  Prefect  said  nothing,  but  seemed  to  look 
at  me  for  some  words,  which  seeing,  I  earnestly 
entreated  him  to  do  the  Prophet  no  violence. 

"For  thy  wishes'  sake,  lady,  I  will  here  draw 
up  my  troop ;  especially,  as  I  see  that  the  people 
are  unarmed." 

The  Centurion  gave  orders  to  his  horsemen  to 
draw  up  in  a  line  opposite  the  house.  The  mul- 
titude now  drew  near;  but  many  of  those  in  ad- 
vance, seeing  the  Roman  horse,  stopped  or  fell 
back,  so  that  I  now  beheld  Jesus  appear  in  front, 
walking  at  an  even,  calm  pace,  John  at  his  side, 
and  also  Rabbi  Amos  was  with  him.  As  he 
came  nigher,  the  people,  for  fear  of  the  long 
Roman  spears,  fell  back,  and  he  advanced,  almost 
alone.  I  saw  John  point  out  to  him  the  house. 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID.          227 

The  Prophet  raised  his  face  and  gazed  upon  it  an 
instant.  I  saw  his  features  full.  His  countenance 
was  not  that  of  a  young  man,  but  of  a  person  past 
the  middle  age  of  life,  though  he  is  but  thirty. 
His  dark,  brown  hair  was  mingled  with  gray,  and 
in  his  finely-shaped,  oval  face  were  carved,  evi- 
dently by  care  and  sorrow,  deep  lines.  His 
beard  was  black,  mingled  with  gray,  and  fell 
upon  his  breast.  His  large,  hazel  eyes,  appeared 
to  be  fixed  on  us  both  for  an  instant,  with  benig- 
nity and  peace.  Deep  sadness,  gentle,  not  stern, 
seemed  to  be  the  characteristic  expression  of  his 
noble  and  princely  visage.  There  was  an  air  of 
manly  dignity  in  his  carriage  and  mien;  and  as  he 
walked  amid  his  followers,  he  was  truly  kingly, 
yet  simplicity  and  humility  qualified  this  native 
majesty  of  port.  He  seemed  to  unite  both  awe 
and  love,  in  those  who  saw  him,  to  command  our 
homage  and  sympathy. 

As  he  drew  near  where  the  Roman  Prefect 
sat  upon  his  horse,  the  Prophet  inclined  his  body 
slightly,  but  with  a  courtesy  indescribable,  to  the 
young  chief,  who  bent  low  to  his  saddle-bow  in 
acknowledgment,  as  if  to  a  monarch.  We  were 
both  surprised,  as  well  as  gratified,  dear  father, 
at  this  act  of  homage  from  the  Roman  knight  to 
our  Prophet,  and  I  thought  more  kindly  than 
ever  of  yEmilius. 

Passing  the  horsemen,  John  and  Rabbi  Amos 
cond-cted  Jesus  to  our  door;  but  before  they 
reached  it,  there  was  a  loud  cry  from  several 
harsh  voices  to  the  Roman,  to  arrest  him.  On 
looking  from  whence  these  shouts  came,  I  saw 


228  THE    PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

that  they  proceeded  from  several  of  the  priests, 
headed  by  Annas,  who  were  pressing  forward 
through  the  crowd. 

"We  call  upon  you,  O  Prefect,  to  arrest  this 
man!  Shame  on  thee,  Rabbi  Amos!  Hast  thou 
also  believed  in  the  imposter?  We  charge  this 
Galilean,  O  Roman,  with  having  made  sedition. 
He  has  taken  possession  of  the  Temple,  and, 
unless  you  see  to  it,  he  will  have  the  citadel  out 
of  your  hands.  If  you  arrest  him  not,  we  will 
not  answer  for  the  consequences  that  may  befall 
the  city  and  the  people." 

"I  see  nothing  to  fear  from  this  man,  O  ye 
Jews,"  answered  JEmilius.  "He  is  unarmed,  and 
without  troops.  Stand  back;  keep  ye  to  your 
Temple.  It  is  from  your  outcries  comes  all  the 
confusion!  Back  to  your  altars!  If  commo- 
tions arise  in  the  city,  Pilate  will  make  you 
accountable.  All  the  rest  of  the  people  are 
peaceable,  save  only  yourselves." 

"We  will  take  our  complaint  before  the  Pro- 
curator, cried  Annas,  who  was  the  chief  speaker; 
and,  followed  by  a  large  company  of  angry  priests 
and  Levites,  with  staves  in  their  hands,  he  took 
his  way  towards  the  palace  of  the  Roman  gov- 
ernor. 

I  looked  my  gratitude  to  ^milius,  for  taking; 
part  with  the  Prophet. 

The  multitude  now  began  to  retire,  as  the  Ro- 
man horse  slowly  moved  up  the  street,  and  Jesus 
being  received  into  the  house  by  Mary,  who  de- 
scended to  open  the  door,  quiet  was  soon  in  a 
measure  restored;  though  at  one  time  a  large 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  229 

concourse  of  persons,  whose  money-tables  had 
been  cast  down,  came  to  complain  of  their  losses, 
and  would  have  attacked  the  house  but  for  Rabbi 
Amos,  who  went  forth  and  civilly  addressed  them 
showing  them  that  if  they  had  sold  and  bought 
in  the  Temple,  contrary  to  law,  and  that  if  Jesus 
had  driven  them  forth  alone,  he  must  be  a 
prophet,  for  only  a  prophet  could  make  a  thous- 
and men  flee  before  him;  "and  if  he  be  a  phophet, 
my  friends,  he  has  acted  by  command  of  God; 
and  take  heed,  lest  in  avenging  yourselves 
against  him,  you  be  found  fighting  against  God." 

With  such  words  he  caused  them  to  retire, 
though  many  sick,  lame,  halt,  and  blind,  and  in- 
firm, as  well  as  a  group  of  lepers,  stood  a  long 
time,  without  calling  upon  the  prophet  to  come 
forth,  and  touch  them  and  heal  them. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Jesus  was  taken  into  the 
inner  hall,  and  water  being  brought,  Rabbi  Amos 
himself  removed  his  sandals,  and  washed  his  feet; 
while  Mary,  to  do  him  all  honor,  dried  them  with 
a  rich  veil,  which  she  had  just  worked  in  antici- 
pation of  her  coming  bridal  with  her  cousin 
John.  It  was  at  this  moment  I  entered  the  hall. 
Desirous  as  I  had  been  to  behold  and  speak  with 
the  Prophet,  now  that  I  could  behold  him  face  to 
face,  I  shrunk  with  awe.  He  raised  bis  eyes,  and 
beholding  me,  said: 

"Daughter,  come  thou  also,  and  bid  me  wel- 
come with  these  dear  friends;  for  I  know  thou  be- 
lievest  in  me,  and  wouldst  that  thy  father  also 
^should  believe.  Be  patient,  and  hope;  for  thou 


230          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

shall  yet  behold  him  whom  thou  lovest,  my  disci- 
ple!" 

As  thus  he  spake,  he  extended  to  me  his  hand, 
upon  which  I  let  fall  a  rain  of  tears  of  joy.  I 
knew  that  he  knew  my  heart  and  theughts,  and 
that  his  words  would  prove  true.  Yes,  dear 
father,  you  also  will  believe,  as  we  all  believe. 
You  also  are  to  acknowledge  Him  as  the  Christ. 

They  were  in  the  room,  not  only  Amos,  and 
John,  and  Mary,  but  the  Priest  Elias,  cousin  to 
Caiaphas,  who,  desirous  of  hearing  from  the  lips 
of  the  Prophet  his  sublime  teachings  had  come 
in  with  him.  There  were  also  present  five  men 
whom  I  never  saw  before ;  but  who,  as  John  said, 
were  his  disciples.  One  of  them  was  a  short, 
compactly-made  man,  with  high,  energetic  fea- 
tures, a  bold  brow  and  an  eagle  eye,  with  an  air 
of  singular  determination,  like  a  soldier.  His 
name  was  Simon  Peter.  Another  was  a  tall,  in- 
tellectual person,  with  a  calm,  thoughtful  air, 
who  seemed  to  hang  on  every  word  his  master 
uttered,  as  if  he  were  listening  to  the  very  oracles 
of  God.  His  name  was  Andrew,  and  he  is  a 
brother  to  Simon.  .  But  I  had  no  eye  or  ear  for 
any  one  but  Jesus.  I  saw  that  he  seemed  weary 
and  pale,  and  for  the  first  time  I  noticed  a  wound 
oozing  blood  upon  his  temple,  from  which  he 
seemed  to  suffer,  as  from  time  to  time  he  raised 
his  hand  to  it.  Desirous  of  serving  so  holy  a 
person,  I  hastened  to  prepare  liniment,  with 
which,  bringing  it  into  the  hall,  I  was  about  to 
bind  up  his  wound,  which  John  said  had  been 
caused  by  a  st«ne  thrown  by  some  wicked  hand. 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  231 

But  the  Priest  Elias  put  me  rudely  back,  and 
said,  "Nay,  maiden,  let  us  witness  a  miracle!" 
He  then  turned  to  the  Prophet  and  said,  "Mas- 
ter, we  have  heard  much  of  thy  power  to  do  mir- 
acles, but  have  seen  none  done  by  thee!  If  thou 
wilt  presently  show  me  a  miracle,  I  will  believe,  I 
and  all  my  house!  Thou  hast  a  wound  gaping 
in  the  temple;  heal  it  with  a  touch,  and  I  will  ac- 
knowledge thee  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the 
blessed!" 

Jesus  turned  his  eyes  upon  him  and  said, 
"Elias,  thou  readest  the  Prophets,  and  should 
know  whether  he  who  speaketh  unto  thee  be  the 
Christ  or  no!  Search  the  Scriptures,  that  thou 
mayest  know  the  time  of  his  visitation  is  come, 
and  that  I  am  He!  One  prophecy  fulfilled  is  of 
more  value  than  many  miracles.  But  I  do  no 
miracles  to  relieve  my  own  sufferings.  I  came 
into  this  world  to  suffer.  Isaiah  wrote  of  me  as  a 
man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief! 
Blessed  are  they  who  not  seeing,  shall  believe. 
Ye  believe  that  I  am  a  prophet,  and  come  out 
from  God.  It  is  well.  Shall  a  prophet,  then,  de- 
ceive? If  I  am  a  prophet  (and  ye  doubt  it  not), 
and  I  say  that  I  am  the  Christ,  why  will  ye  not 
believe  me?  If  I  am  a  true  prophet,  come 
out  from  God,  I  cannot  lie.  Yet  ye  believe  me 
when  I  say  I  am  a  prophet,  and  ye  are  displeased 
if  I  say  I  am  the  Christ.  If  ye  believe  me  at  all, 
then  believe  what  I  say  unto  you,  that  I  am  the 
Christ." 

"But,  master,"  said  the  aged  Levite,  Asher, 
"we  know  whence  thou  art — even  from  Galilee. 


232          THE  PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OP   DAVID. 

But  when  Christ  cometh,  no  man  knoweth 
whence  he  is!" 

"It  is  true,  O  man  of  Israel,  ye  both  know  me 
and  whence  I  am.  Yet  ye  know  not  Him  who 
sent  me.  Ye  do  not  understand  the  Scriptures, 
or  ye  would  indeed  know  me,  whence  I  am,  and 
who  hath  sent  me.  But  ye  know  neither  me  nor 
Him  that  sent  me,  for  I  am  come  out  from  God. 
If  ye  had  known  Him,  ye  would  know  me  also. 
The  time  cometh  when  ye  shall  know  whence  I 
am  and  believe  in  me;  but  now  your  hearts  are 
darkened  through  ignorance  and  unbelieving. 
I  have  told  you  plainly  I  am  the  Christ." 

When  he  had  thus  spoken  with  great  dignity 
and  power,  there  were  many  present  who  weri 
offended,  and  some  voices  murmured  againi-t 
him.  Then  Rabbi  Amos  led  him  forth  to  thi 
apartment  he  had  prepared  for  him;  but  the  pec- 
pie  remained  warmly  discussing  the  subject,  and 
were  greatly  divided  about  him,  some  saying  that 
he  was  Christ,  and  others  denying  it;  while  others 
cried  aloud  that  he  did  his  miracles  by  Beelze- 
bub, Prince  of  the  devils. 

"And  so,"  said  my  cousin  John,  bitterly,  "and 
so  it  is  wherever  my  beloved  master  goes. 
Detraction  and  envy,  malice  and  unbelief,  fol- 
low his  footsteps,  and  daily  his  life  is  menaced, 
and  no  place  is  a  place  of  shelter  for  his  aching 
head." 

In  going  to  his  apartment,  the  Prophet  had  to 
cross  the  court,  and  as  I  was  watching  his  retir- 
ing footsteps,  I  saw  four  men  who  had  climbed 
to  the  house-top  from  the  street,  the  doors  being 


THV.  irJtfCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          233 

shut,  let  down  a.  fifth  in  a  blanket  at  the  very  feet 
of  Jesus.  It  was  a  man  afflicted  with  the  palsy, 
and  grievously  tormented,  and  their  own  father. 
Jesus,  seeing  their  filial  love,  stopped  and  said, 
kindly: 

"Young  men, what  would  you  have  me  to  do?" 
"Heal  our  aged  father,  holy  Rabbi." 
"Believe  ye  that  I  can  do  this?"  he  asked,  fix- 
ing his  gaze  earnestly  on  them. 

"Yes,  Lord!  we  believe  that  thou  art  the 
Christ,  the  son  of  the  living  God!  All  things 
are  possible  unto  thee!" 

Jesus  looked  benignantly  upon  them,  and  then 
taking  the  venerable  man  by  the  hand,  he  said 
to  him  in  a  loud  voice,  so  that  all  who  were 
looking  on  heard  him: 

"Aged  father,  I  say  unto  thee,  arise  and  walk!" 
The  palsied  man  instantly  arose  to  his  feet, 
whole  and  strong,  and  after  casting  a  glance 
around  upon  himself,  he  threw  himself  at  the 
Prophet's  feet,  and  bathed  them  in  tears.  The 
four  sons  did  the  same,  while  all  the  people  who 
witnessed  the  miracle  shouted,  "glory  to  God, 
who  hath  given  such  power  unto  men!" 

Jesus  then  withdrew  himself  from  the  grateful 
group,  who,  embracing  their  father,  wept  upon 
his  neck,  and  then  the  whole  four  escorted  him, 
two  on  each  side,  with  their  arms  about  him,  and 
about  each  other,  into  the  street,  where  they 
were  received  by  the  multitude  with  loud  cries  of 
gratulation;  for  the  old  man  had  been  well 
known  in  the  city  by  all  men,  as  palsied  and  un- 
able to  walk  for  thirty  years. 


234          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

Such,  my  dear  father,  are  the  increasing  testi- 
monies Jesus  bears,  by  miracles,  as  well  as  by; 
words,  to  his  being  Messias. 

The  God  of  our  fathers  keep  you  in  health. 

Your  loving  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER  XIX. 

Dear  Father: — The  visit  of  the  Prophet  Jesus 
to  the  city  has  produced  results  of  the  most 
amazing  character.  His  numerous  miracles, 
performed  in  the  open  day  by  a  word,  or  a  look, 
or  a  touch,  or  a  command,  the  power  of  his 
preaching,  the  excellency  of  his  doctrines,  which 
are  evidently  divine,  his  clear  assertions  that  he 
is  the  very  Christ,  have  all  contributed  to  bring 
the  first  men  of  Israel,  rulers  as  well  as  people, 
to  believe  in  him!  During  the  four  days  he  re- 
mained at  the  house  of  my  uncle  Amos,  the 
chief  men  of  the  city  came  to  hear  him,  and,  if 
possible,  to  see  some  miracle  performed  by  him. 
The  priesthood  is  divided.  Caiaphas  has  pub- 
licly recognized  him  as  a  prophet,  while  Annas 
has  publicly  declared  that  he  is  an  imposter;  and 
thus  two  parties  are  formed  in  the  city,  headed 
by  the  two  priests,  and  all  men  have  taken  sides 
with  one  or  the  other.  But  the  majority  of  the 
common  people  are  in  favor  of  Jesus,  believing1 


236          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

him  to  be  the  Christ.  The  Pharisees  most  oppose 
him,  because  he  boldly  reproves  their  sins  and 
hypocrisies;  and  though  they  fear  him,  they  hate 
and  would  destroy  him,  for  he  preaches  so  plainly 
against  their  wickedness,  that  the  people  have 
ceased  to  respect  them.  Even  Nicodemus,  who 
at  first  was  inclined  to  accept  Jesus  as  a  Prophet, 
finding  the  Pharisees  against  him,  and  being  un- 
willing to  lose  his  popularity  with  them,  kept 
away  from  the  house  where  Jesus  was  by  day; 
but  his  curiosity  to  learn  more  of  him,  led  him 
to  visit  the  holy  Prophet  secretly  by  night.  This 
he  did  twice,  coming  alone  in  the  darkness,  and 
being  let  in  by  his  friend,  Rabbi  Amos.  What 
the  result  of  these  interviews  was,  I  can  only  tell 
you  from  Mary's  account.  She  overheard  their 
conversation,  her  window  opening  up  on  the  cor- 
ridor, where  Jesus  had  been  seated  after  supper, 
alone  in  the  moonlight  for  full  an  hour,  gazing 
meditatively  heavenward.  His  pale  and  chiseled 
features  in  the  white  moonlight  seemed  radiant 
as  marble,  and  as  cold,  when  Rabbi  Amos  came 
and  announced  the  ruler  Nicodemus,  as  desirous 
to  speak  with  him. 

"Bid  him  come  in  and  see  me,  if  he  has  ought 
to  say  to  me,"  answered  the  Prophet,  turning 
towards  him. 

"Nicodemus,"  added  my  cousin  Mary,  "then 
came  to  the  corridor,  carefully  wrapped  in  his 
mantle;  and  looking  about  to  see  if  he  were  un- 
observed, he  dropped  it  from  his  face,  and,  bow- 
ing reverently,  said  to  the  Prophet: 

"Pardon  me,  O  Rabbi,  that  I  come  to  thee  by 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HODSE   OP  DAVID.          237 

night;  but  by  day  thy  time  is  taken  up  with 
healing  and  with  teaching.  I  am  glad  to  find 
thee  alone,  great  Prophet,  for  I  would  ask  thee 
many  things." 

"Speak,  Nicodemus,  and  I  will  listen  to  thy 
words,"  answered  the  Prophet. 

"Rabbi,"  said  the  ruler  of  the  Pharisees,  "I 
know  thou  art  a  teacher,  come  from  God;  for 
no  man  can  do  these  things  that  thou  doest  ex- 
cept God  be  with  him.  That  thou  art  a  mighty 
Prophet,  I  believe,  as  do  all  men:  but  art  thou 
the  Messias?  Tell  us  plainly!" 

"If  I  tell  thee,  Nicodemus,  thou  wilt  not  be- 
lieve," answered  Jesus,  mildly.  "I  will  ask  you 
one  question.  Whence  cometh  Christ?" 

"He  is  the  son  of  David,  and  cometh  out  of 
Bethlehem." 

"Thou  hast  well  answered.  Rabbi  Amos,  here, 
will  tell  thee  that  he  has  examined  the  records. 
Ask  him  whose  son  he  is  who  speaketh  unto 
thee." 

"The  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary,  of  the  lineage 
of  David's  house,"  answered  Rabbi  Amos.  "The 
record  of  his  birth  I  have  seen,  O  Nicodemus, 
and  also  have  Caiaphas  and  many  others.  Thou 
canst  examine  for  thyself,  if  thou  wilt  come  to 
the  Temple  with  me  to-morrow." 

"Thy  word  suffices,  O  Rabbi  Amos;  for  who 
ever  knew  thy  lips  to  utter  falsehood?" 

"The  same  record  shows  that  the  great 
Prophet,  now  here  among  us,  was  born  in  Beth- 
lehem, in  the  days  of  the  taxation,"  answered 
Rabbi  Amos. 


238  THE   PRINCE   OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   DAVID. 

"Thence  whence  is  it,  O  Prophet,  that  thou 
cometh  out  of  Nazareth  of  Galilee?"  asked  Nic- 
odemus,  doubtingly. 

"I  will  tell  thee,  Nicodemus,"  answered  Jesus. 
"My  parents  dwelt  in  Nazareth,  and  as  they  so- 
journed at  Bethlehem,  to  be  registered  in  their 
own  family  town,  David's  town,  I  was  born! 
Thus  am  I  of  the  line  of  David,  of  the  town  of 
Bethlehem,  and  also  as  it  was  prophesied  of  me, 
a  Nazarene.  Dost  thou  ask  more?  Dost  thou 
believe?" 

"Yea,  Lord;  but  how  read  the  Prophets  that 
Messias  is  to  be  a  king,  and  to  rule  the  whole 
earth  ?" 

"My  kingdom,  O  ruler  of  the  Pharisees,  is  not 
of  this  world!  I  am  indeed  a  king,  but  of  a 
spiritual  kingdom.  My  kingdom,  unlike  all 
earthly  kingdoms,  has  no  end;  and  those  who 
become  its  subjects  must  be  born  again,  or  they 
cannot  see  it!" 

"Born  again?"  answered  Nicodemus,  with 
surprise,  "How  can  a  man  be  a  second  time  born 
after  he  is  grown  to  manhood?  O  Rabbi,  thou 
speakest  in  parables." 

"Art  thou  a  wise  man  of  the  Pharisees,  and  a 
master  in  Israel,  and  knowest  not  what  I  say?" 
answered  the  Prophet.  "Verily,  verily  I  say 
unto  thee,  except  a  man  be  born  of  water  and  of 
the  Spirit  he  cannot  enter  my  kingdom.  He 
who  is  born  of  Adam  is  of  the  flesh,  and  of 
Satan's  kingdom,  of  which  Adam  was;  but  he 
that  is  born  again  is  born  a  spiritual  man,  and  is 
of  my  kingdom;  for  I  come  to  build  up  a  king- 


TflE    PKIXCK    OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  1C  9- 

dom  on  the  ruins  of  Satan's  seat.  Marvel  not, 
then,  that  I  say  that  the  sons  of  Adam  must  be 
born  again  to  the  sons  of  God.  If  ye  would 
enter  into  my  kingdom  and  live  forever,  ye  must 
be  born  again,  even  of  water  and  of  the  Spirit." 

"How  can  these  things  be?  Pray,  master, 
explain,  that  I  may  know  what  this  mystery 
meaneth.  How  can  a  man  be  born  when  he  is 
old?" 

"What!  dost  thou  stumble  at  the  very  thres- 
hold of  the  doctrine  of  my  kingdom,  O  Pharisee? 
If  ye  cannot  believe  earthly  things,  how  shall  ye 
understand  the  heavenly  things,  which  ye  seek 
to  know?  He  that  would  be  my  disciple  must 
be  born  again !  Your  first  birth  is  under  Satan's 
power,  which  rules  the  world  as  it  now  is  in 
bondage;  your  second  birth  is  into  His  kingdom, 
who  has  come  to  destroy  Satan's  and  build  up 
His  own.  This  birth  is  spiritual." 

Upon  this  Nicodemus  rose  and  said,  with  a 
shake  of  the  head: 

"I  will  hear  thee  again,  O  Rabbi,  of  this 
matter  touching  the  new  birth,  of  which  thou 
speakest." 

When  Nicodemus  left  him,  Rabbi  Amos  said, 
"Is  it  indeed  true,  O  master,  that  thou  art  to 
establish  a  kingdom?" 

"Yes,  Rabbi  Amos,  a  kingdom  in  which' 
dwelleth  righteousness,"  answered  the  Prophet. 

"And  shall  all  nations  pay  us  tribute?" 

"Thou  knowest  not  what  thou  sayest,  O 
Rabbi.  But  the  veil  shall  be  removed  from 
thine  eyes  when  thou  seest  the  Son  of  man  lifted 


Z4U          THE   FKJNCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

up  on  his  throne,  as  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent 
in  the  wilderness." 

"Where  will  be  thy  throne,  O  Messias?  Wilt 
thou  expel  Romans  from  the  city  of  David,  and 
reigm  there?" 

"Thou  shalt  yet  behold  me  on  my  throne,  O 
Amos,  raised  above  the  earth,  and  drawing  all 
men  unto  me." 

"Wilt  thou  have  thy  throne  in  the  clouds  of 
Heaven,  O  Master,  that  thou  shalt  be  raised 
above  the  earth  upon  it?"  asked  Rabbi  Amos. 

"My  throne  shall  be  set  on  Mount  Calvary, 
and  the  ends  of  the  earth  shall  look  unto  me, 
and  acknowledge  my  empire.  But  thou 
knowest  not  these  things  now;  but  hereafter 
thou  shalt  remember  that  I  told  thee  of  them." 

Jesus  then  rose,  and  bidding  his  host  good 
night,  retired  to  the  apartment  which  was  as- 
signed him,  and  Mary  remained  wondering  at 
his  sayings. 

Thus,  dear  father,  it  is  made  certain  from  his 
own  words,  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ;  that  he  is 
to  establish  a  kingdom;  that  he  will  stand  on  ''a 
throne  high  and  lifted  up,"  as  saith  the  Prophet, 
and  all  the  earth  shall  acknowledge  him.  But 
why  his  throne  should  be  on  Calvary  instead  of 
Mount  Zion,  Rabbi  Amos  wonders  greatly,  in 
conversing  with  us  to-day;  for  Calvary  is  a  place 
of  skulls,  and  of  public  executions,  and  is 
covered  with  Roman  crosses,  where  every  week 
some  malefactor  is  crucified  for  his  crimes! 
And  yet  it  is  more  mysterious  still,  his  saying 
that  we  must  be  born  again.  But  John 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAVID.  241 

remarked  that  there  are  many  things  which  he 
says  to  him  and  his  disciples,  which  Jesus  plainly 
tells  them  they  cannot  yet  understand,  but  will 
by  and  by  remember;  and  that  he  tells  them  now 
that  then,  when  they  see  these  things  fulfilled, 
they  may  remember  that  he  told  them  of  them 
and  believe  in  him;  and  have  confidence  that 
other  sayings  and  prophecies  of  his,  yet  further 
in  the  future,  will  come  to  pass. 

Jesus,  in  all  that  he  says,  in  all  that  he  does, 
proves  that  he  is  omniscient  and  omnipotent! 
Whatever  he  wills  to  do,  he  doeth.  Never  man 
had  power  such  as  dwells  in  him.  This  morn- 
ing, as  he  was  going  forth  from  the  house  to 
depart  into  the  country,  a  man  lame  from  his 
youth,  seated  upon  the  threshold,  caught  him  by 
his  robe,  saying,  "Master,  heal  me!" 

"Sort,  thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee,"  answered 
Jesus,  and  then  passed  on;  but  the  Scribes  and 
Pharisees  who  stood  about,  when  they  heard 
this,  cried,  "This  man,  be  he  prophet  or  no, 
blasphemeth;  for  God  alone  can  forgive  sins!" 

Jesus  stopped,  and  turning  to  them,  said: 

"Which  is  easier,  to  say  to  this  man,  who  has 
not  walked  for  twelve  years,  and  whose  legs  and 
arms  are  withered,  as  you  see,  Thy  sins  be  for- 
given thee,'  or  to  say,  'Rise  and  walk?'  If  I  can 
bid  him  rise  and  walk  as  aforetime,  and  he  does 
so  before  your  eyes,  is  it  not  proof  to  you  that  I 
have  power  to  forgive  his  sins  also?  For  who 
could  make  him  to  rise  and  walk  but  the  power 
of  God  alone,  who  also  forgiveth  men's  sins? 


242    THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

But  that  ye  may  know  that  the  Son  of  God  hath 
power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins,  Behold!" 

The  Prophet  then  said  in  a  loud  voice  to  the 
lame  man,  "Arise,  take  up  thy  bed,  and  go  to 
thine  house!" 

Immediately  the  man  rose  to  his  feet,  leaping 
and  praising  God,  and  taking  up  the  mattress 
upon  which  they  had  brought  him  to  the  door, 
he  ran  swiftly  away  to  show  himself  to  his  kins- 
folk, while  all  the  people  shouted  and  praised 
God!  . 

Thus  did  Jesus  publicly  show  men  that  he 
could  forgive  sins,  if  he  could  heal,  as  the  power 
to  do  both  came  equally  from  God.  Does  not 
this  prove  that  he  is  the  Son  of  God? 

You  should  have  seen  him,  dear  father,  as  he 
left  our  house,  to  go  away  into  Galilee.  Mary 
and  I  fell  at  his  feet  and  bathed  them  with  our 
tears,  Rabbi  Amos,  and  even  Nicodemus, 
kneeled  before  him,  with  many  others,  asking  his 
blessing;  mothers  came  with  their  infants,  that 
he  might  lay  his  hands  on  them ;  and  the  sick  and 
impotent  were  placed  by  their  friends  in  his  path, 
that  his  shadow  in  passing  by  might  heal  them. 
Hundreds  brought  handkerchiefs,  amulets,  and 
sprigs  of  cypress  torn  from  the  booths,  in  order 
that  they  might  bring  them  in  contact  with  his 
garments.  The  street  was  lined  with  all  the 
afflicted  of  Jerusalem;  and  as  he  moved  on 
between  the  rows  of  wretched  sufferers,  whose 
hollow  eyes  and  shrivelled  arms  were  turned 
imploringly  towards  him,  he  healed  by  words 
addressed  to  them,  as  he  moved  on,  so  that 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  243 

\vhere  he  found  disease  before  him,  stretched  on 
beds,  he  left  behind  him  health  and  empty 
couches.  We  all  wept  at  his  departure,  and 
followed  him  to-  the  Damascus  gate.  Here 
there  were  assembled  a  large  company  of  Levites 
and  priests,  among  whom  were  mingled  some  of 
the  most  desperate  characters  in  Jerusalem. 
Knowedge  of  this  fact  reached  Rabbi  Amos, 
who  at  once  sent  a  message  to  ^milius,  our 
Roman  friend,  informing  him  that  he  appre- 
hended that  there  would  be  an  attempt  made  to 
assassinate  Jesus  at  the  going  out  of  the  gate, 
and  asking  his  aid. 

yEmilius  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  fifty 
horse,  and  reaching  the  gate,  pressed  the  crowd 
back  and  took  possession  of  it.  When  Jesus 
passed  through  the  armed  guard  beneath  the 
arch  the  young  Roman  courteously  offered  him 
an  escort  to  the  next  village. 

Jesus,  graciously  looking  on  him,  said: 

"Young  man,  I  need  not  thy  help.  My  hour 
is  not  yet  come.  They  cannot  harm  me  till  my 
hour  arrives.  I  am  not  yet  given  by  my  father 
into  their  hands!  Take  my  blessing,  and  one 
day  thou  shalt  know  to  whom  thou  hast  offered 
the  aid  of  thy  troop?" 

The  Levites  and  their  hired  murderers  now 
pressed  forward,  and  broke  through  the  cohort 
to  reach  Jesus,  uttering  wild  and  fearful  cries; 
but  ^milius  charging  them,  routed  them,  and 
put  several  to  the  sword.  He  then  rode  to  the 
side  of  the  Prophet,  offering  him  the  best  horse 
in  his  company.  This  accommodation  Jesus 


244          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSr,   OF  DAVID. 

refused,  but  walked  by  the  Roman  soldier,  who 
insisted  on  escorting  him,  affably  conversing 
with  him,  and  teaching  him  wonderful  things 
touching  the  kingdom  of  God. 

yEmilius,  who  informed  me  of  these  things, 
conducted  him  as  far  as  Ephraim,  and  then  was 
about  to  leave  him  to  return  to  the  city,  when 
four  lepers  came  from  the  cemetery  of  the  tombs, 
near  the  village,  and  crying  out  afar  off,  said: 

"Thou  blessed  Christ,  have  mercy  on  us!" 

Jesus  stopped,  though  his  disciple  Peter  would 
have  bidden  the  lepers  to  hold  their  peace,  as  it 
was  late,  and  his  Master  was  weary;  but  Jesus, 
who  never  wearies  doing  good,  called  the  lepers 
to  approach.  As  they  did  so,  the  whole  com- 
pany of  people,  as  well  as  the  Roman  soldiers, 
drew  back  to  a  distance,  in  horror  at  the  sight  of 
these  dead-living  men.  They  came  timidly 
within  twenty  paces  of  Jesus,  and  stood  still, 
tremblingly ! 

"Fear  not,"  said  he,  "I  will  make  you  whole!" 

He  then  advanced  towards  them,  and  laying 
his  hand  upon  each  of  them,  they  all,  at  the 
touch,  were  instantly  changed  to  well  men,  with 
the  buoyant  form,  clear  eye,  and  rich  bloom  of 
health ! 

When  yEmilius  saw  this  miracle,  he  dis- 
mounted from  his  horse,  and  falling  at  Jesus' 
feet,  cried,  worshiping  him: 

"Thou  art  Mercury  or  Jupiter,  O  mighty  God! 
Give  me  wisdom  and  power  from  the  skies!" 

"Rise,  young  man,"  answered  Jesus,  sadly 
looking  upon  him ;  "thou  shalt  have  wisdom  and 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  245 

grace,  but  not  from  thy  gods;  there  is  but  one 
God,  even  the  Father;  worship  him,  and  he  will 
reward  thee!" 

^Emilius  said  to  me  that  his  heart  thrilled  at 
these  words,  with  others  he  had  spoken  in  the 
way,  and  he  promised  me  that  he  would  hence- 
forth "cast  aside  his  gods  and  believe  in  the  God 
of  Israel,  and  in  Jesus,  his  holy  Prophet." 

Is  not  this  blessed  news?  *'Lo!  he  proclaims," 
s.s  saith  the  prophet,  "liberty  to  the  Gentiles." 

Now,  my  dear  father,  I  have  thus  far  faithfully 
written  all  that  I  have  heard  and  witnessed 
respecting  Jesus,  as  you  desired.  You  must  see 
that  he  is  more  than  a  Prophet,  and  is  the  very 
Christ,  the  son  of  the  Blessed.  Withhold,  oh, 
withhold  not,  your  belief  longer.  Thousands 
believe  in  him,  love  and  reverence  him,  as 
Messias.  Daily  his  power  over  the  hearts  and 
minds  of  men  is  increasing.  The  common  peo- 
ple worship  the  very  dust  of  his  sandals.  The 
priests  believe  and  tremble;  but,  like  Herod, 
when  he  was  an  infant  in  Bethlehem,  would 
destroy  him,  lest  he  should  supplant  them. 
They  say  the  daily  sacrifice  will  cease,  the 
Temple  fall  to  ruins,  and  the  faith  of  Israel 
depart,  if  Jesus  be  suffered  to  live  and  preach, 
and  do  these  mighty  signs  and  wonders  among 
the  people.  But  all  this  establishes  his  claims! 
Did  not  David  prophesy  of  Messias,  that  when 
he  should  come,  "The  kings  of  the  earth  would 
set  themselves,  and  the  rulers  take  council  to- 
gether against  the  Lord  and  against  his 
anointed?  But  he  that  sitteth  in  the  heavens 


246          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  DA\il>. 

shall  laugh:  the  Lord  shall  have  them  in  deri- 
sion." Thus,  dear  father,  all  things  more  and 
more  go  to  prove  Jesus  of  Nazareth  to  be  the 
Christ  of  God. 

Your  affectionate  and  loving  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER  XX. 

My  Dear  Father: — It  is  many  months  since 
you  have  received  a  letter  from  me,  written  with 
my  own  hand;  and  I  rejoice  that  I  am  so  far 
restored  to  health  as  to  resume  my  correspond- 
ence with  you.  I  cannot  speak  to  you  too 
warmly  in  praise  of  my  uncle  Amos  and  cousin 
Mary,  during  my '  illness.  By  their  care  and 
nursing,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  I  am  now 
nearly  well.  The  pure  air  of  the  mountains  of 
Galilee  being  recommended  to  me,  they  jour- 
neyed with  me  thither,  and,  at  the  foot  of  Mount 
Tabor,  in  the  lovely  village  of  Nain,  I  have 
passed  many  weeks,  reviving  each  day. 

We  are  now  at  the  humble  abode  of  a  widow, 
whose  husband  has  been  lost  on  the  Great  Sea, 
on  which  he  was  a  seaman,  in  one  of  the  mer- 
chant ships  of  Cesarea.  The  cottage  of  the 
widow  stands  in  a  garden,  from  which  is  a  sub- 
lime view  of  Tabor,  in  all  the  majesty  of  his 
mountain  grandeur.  One  day,  while  I  Was  in 


2*5         THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

the  garden  walking,  two  men,  dusty  and  travel- 
worn,  stopped  at  the  half-open  gate,  and,  salut- 
ing us,  said: 

"Peace  be  to  this  house,  maiden,  and  all  who 
dwell  here." 

"Enter,"  said  the  widow,  overhearing  them, 
"enter,  and  ye  shall  have  water  for  your  feet,  and 
bread  for  your  hunger." 

The  two  men  then  entered  and  seated  them- 
selves; and  having  been  refreshed  by  the  poor, 
but  hospitable  widow,  one  of  them  rose  and  said: 

"This  day  is  salvation  come  to  this  house. 
We  are  ambassadors  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  and 
go  from  city  to  city,  proclaiming  the  day  of  the 
Lord  at  hand,  for  Messias  is  come!" 

At  hearing  these  words,  Mary  and  I  both  ex- 
claimed with  joy  that  we  had  both  seen  and 
heard  Jesus  at  Jerusalem,  and  believed  on  him. 
Upon  this  they  looked  greatly  pleased;  and 
answered  our  inquiries  respecting  the  P'ophet; 
that  he  was  in  Samaria,  preaching  and  working 
miracles,  and  proclaiming  his  kingdom.  When 
we  heard  this  we  rejoiced  exceedingly,  for  we 
had  not  heard  of  him  for  a  long  time.  From 
them  we  learned  that  he  had  chosen  twelve 
apostles,  who  always  went  with  him,  and  were 
daily  taught  of  him:  and  also,  more  recently, 
seventy  others,  whom  he  sent,  two  and  two,  into 
every  city,  to  herald  his  approach. 

"Will  he,  then,  come  to  Nain?"  said  the 
widow,  with  emotion.  "I  should  be  willing  to 
die,  so  that  I  could  lay  my  eyes  once  upon  so 
great  and  holy  a  man!" 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  249 

"Yes,  he  will  come  hither,"  answered  the  men; 
"and  when  we  shall  report  to  him  your  hospi- 
tality to  us,  he  will  visit  your  house;  for  he  never 
forgets  a  cup  of  water  given  to  one  of  his 
disciples." 

The  men  then  departed,  calling  the  peace  of 
God  upon  our  abode.  They  had  not  been  gone 
many  minutes,  before  we  heard  a  great  commo- 
tion in  the  market-place,  near  by.  Upon  going 
to  the  house-top,  we  beheld  these  two  men 
standing  upon  an  elevation,  and  preaching  the 
kingdom  of  Christ  at  hand,  and  calling  upon  all 
who  heard  them  to  repent  of  their  evil  deeds,  and 
lead  a  godly  life;  for  Jesus  would  one  day  judge 
them  according  to  the  deeds  done  in  the  body. 
Upon  this,  some  cried  out  against  Jesus,  and 
others  threw  stones  at  the  two  men;  and  when 
we  reached  the  house-top,  we  saw  one  of  them 
remove  his  sandals  and  shake  the  dust  from 
them,  saying,  in  a  loud  voice: 

"As  ye  reject  the  words  of  life,  your  sins  re- 
main upon  you,  as  I  return  to  you  again  the  dust 
of  your  city." 

They  then  departed,  followed  by  Levites,  and 
men  of  the  baser  sort,  who  fairly  drove  them 
from  the  town.  This  hostility,  we  found,  was 
caused  by  an  order  from  the  Great  Sanhedrim,  to 
all  the  synagogues  and  priests  in  the  land,  that 
they  should  denounce  all  who  preach  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  as  the  Christ. 

While  we  were  grieving  at  his  enmity  against 
a  Prophet  sent  from  God,  whose  life  was  a  series 
of  good  deeds,  there  entered  hastily  a  fair  young 


250          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

maid,  whose  name  was  Ruth.  She  held  an  open 
letter  in  her  hand,  and  her  beautiful  face  glowed 
rosily  with  some  secret  joy,  which  contrasted 
strangely  with  the  present  sadness  of  our  own. 
We  knew  Ruth  well,  and  loved  her  as  if  she  had 
been  a  sister.  She  was  an  orphan,  and  dwelt 
with  her  uncle,  Elihaz,  the  Levite,  a  man  of  influ- 
ence in  the  town.  She  was  artless,  unsuspecting, 
and  very  interesting  in  all  her  ways. 

"What  good  news,  dear  Ruth?"  asked  Mary, 
smiling  at  her  bright  smiles.  "A  letter  from 
whom?" 

"For  Sarah,"  answered  the  pretty  maid,  blush- 
ing so  timidly  and  consciously,  that  we  half  sus- 
pected the  truth. 

"But,  that  is  not  telling  us  from  whom,"  per- 
severed Mary,  with  a  little  playfulness. 

"You  can  guess,"  she  answered,  glancing  over 
her  white  shoulder,  as  she  bounded  away  from  us 
into  the  house. 

We  were  soon  after  her,  and  heard  her  as  she 
cried,  putting  the  letter  into  the  dear  widow's 
hand: 

"From  Samuel!" 

"God  be  blessed,"  cried  the  widow,  "my  son 
liveth,  and  is  well." 

"Read,  dear  Sarah,"  cried  the  maiden.  "He 
was  at  Alexandria  when  he  wrote  this,  and  will 
soon  be  at  home.  Oh,  happy,  happy  day!" 
added  the  over-joyed  girl,  quite  forgetful  of  our 
presence.  But  we  had  long  known  the  story  of 
her  pure  love  for  the  widow's  son,  and  she  had 
made  us  confidants  of  all  her  hopes  and  fears, 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVIIK 

A 

and  read  to  us  all  the  letters  that  came  from  hinr 
on  the  seas,  for  he  went  down  to  trade  in  the  sea 
in  ships,  like  his  father  before  him.  We  knew, 
too,  that  the  youthful  wanderer  loved  her  with  as 
much  devotion,  as  she  loved  him,  and  our  hearts 
sympathized  with  her  in  her  true  affection. 

"Nay,"  said  the  widow,  "my  eyes  are  filled 
with  tears  of  gladness ;  I  cannot  see  to  read.  Do 
thou  read  it  aloud.  Let  Adina  and  Mary  also 
know  what  he  writeth.  Is  the  letter  to  me,  or 
thee,  child?" 

"To — to  me,  dear  Sarah,"  answered  the 
maiden,  with  a  momentary  embarrassment. 

"Likely — likely;  it  is  most  natural  that  thott 
shouldst  get  the  best  part  of  the  epistles.  But 
so  I  hear  and  know  he  is  well,  it  is  the  same, 
writeth  he  to  me  or  thee!" 

Ruth  then  cast  a  bright  look  upon  us,  and 
thus  read  aloud  from  the  letter  from  over  the 
sea: 

"Dearest  Ruth: — I  fear  you  have  been  impa- 
tient at  my  long  silence ;  but  I  love  you  not  less, 
though  you  do  not  often  hear  from  me.  Now 
that  I  am  safe,  I  will  write  to  you,  which  I  would 
not  do  in  a  state  of  uncertainty.  Know,  that 
after  our  ship  left  Cesarea  for  Crete,  we  were 
caught  by  a  north  wind,  and,  in  striving  to  make 
the  east  end  of  the  island,  we  lost  way,  and  were 
driven  upon  Africa,  where  we  were  wrecked,  los- 
ing all  our  cargo,  and  the  lives  of  many  who 
sailed  with  us.  With  others,  I  was  taken  by  the 
barbarians,  and  carried  inland  to  a  country  of 
rocky  mountains,  and  there  became  a  bondman.' 


252          THE   PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DATED. 

to  one  of  the  chief  men  of  the  nation  wherein  I 
was  captivated.  At  length,  inspired  by  a  con- 
sciousness of  the  anguish  you  and  my  beloved 
mother  must  suffer,  should  you  never  more  hear 
tidings  from  me,  I  resolved  to  effect  my  escape. 
After  great  perils,  I  reached  the  seaside,  and,  at 
the  expiration  of  many  days,  by  following  the 
coast,  I  was  taken  on  board  by  a  small  ship  of 
Cyprus,  and  conveyed  to  Alexandria.  The 
vessel  was  owned  by  a  rich  merchant  of  my  own 
people,  Manassah  Benjamin  Ben  Israel,  who, 
finding  me  sick  and  destitute  of  all  things,  just 
as  I  escaped,  took  me  home  to  his  hospitable 
house,  and  treated  me  as  a  son,  till  I  recovered 
my  health  and  strength;  saying  that  he  had  a 
daughter  far  away  in  Judea,  and  he  hoped  that  if 
she  ever  needed  the  aid  of  strangers,  God  would 
repay  him  by  making  them  kind  to  her." 

Here  Mary  and  I  looked  at  each  other  with 
agitation  and  pleased  surprise. 

''It  was  my  father,"  I  exclaimed,  with  emo- 
tion; "I  rejoice  that  his  house  became  thy  son's 
home,  O  lady.  Blessed  be  my  father!" 

When  Sarah  heard  that  it  was  at  your  house, 
dear  father,  her  son  had  been  so  hospitably  enter- 
tained, she  embraced  me  again  and  again,  and 
entreated  me  to  convey  to  you  her  heartfelt  grat- 
itude; which  I  do  herewith.  And  it  is,  dearest 
father,  because  you  know  and  love  this  young 
man,  so  providentially  thrown  upon  your  care, 
that  I  shall  be  so  particular  in  recounting  what  I 
am  about  to  do  concerning  him. 

Ruth  ended  the  reading  of  the  letter,  which 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  253 

fold  that  he  should  return  in  the  first  ship  bound 
to  Sidon,  or  Cesarea,  when  he  hoped  to  behold 
her  and  his  mother  face  to  face,  and  to  receive 
as  his  bride,  the  maiden  he  had  so  long  loved 
and  cherished  in  his  heart. 

Sarah  seemed  now  to  be  drawn  closer  to  me 
in  affection,  and  also  so  did  Ruth,  since  they 
have  learned  that  I  am  the  daughter  of  the  noble 
Jew  who  did  so  much  for  Samuel  in  a  strange 
land.  At  length,  as  the  day  drew  near  for  me  to 
leave,  to  return  to  Jerusalem,  my  health  being 
quite  invigorated,  we  were  all  taken  with  de- 
lighted surprise  at  the  appearance  of  the  long 
absent  son  and  lover  in  the  midst  of  our  happy 
circle. 

Mary  and  I  had  once  seen  him,  and  we  were 
now  impressed  with  his  manly  and  sun-browned 
beauty,  his  bold  air,  and  frank,  ingenuous  man- 
ner. We  could  not  but  agree  that  the  pretty 
Ruth  had  shown  fine  taste.  He  gave  to  me  the 
package  which  you  desired  him  to  forward  to 
Jerusalem,  and  thus,  we  all  round  had  reason  to 
rejoice  at  his  coming.  But  alas!  my  dear  father, 
our  joy  was  short-lived !  Little  did  we  anticipate 
how  speedily  our  rejoicings  were  to  end  in 
mourning!  The  very  night  of  his  return,  he  was 
seized  with  a  malignant  fever,  which  he  had 
brought  from  Africa  with  him;  and  we  were  all 
overwhelmed  with  grief. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  paint  to  you  the 
anguish  of  the  mother;  the  heart-rending  distress 
\>f  his  betrothed,  as  they  bent  over  his  couch,  and 


'254          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

saw  the  fierce  plague  burning  him,  as  if  he  were 
;in  a  furnace. 

Unconscious  of  their  presence,  he  raved 
•wildly;  and  sometimes  fancied  himself  suffering; 
•thirst  on  the  burning  sands  of  Africa;  and  now, 
oattling  with  the  barbarians  for  his  life.  All  that 
physicians  could  do,  and  his  friends  could  do — 
for  he  was  greatly  beloved  as  well  for  his  own. 
sake  as  for  his  mother's  and  Ruth's — all  was  of 
no  avail.  This  morning,  the  third  day  after  his 
return,  he  expired,  amid  the  most  distressing 
agonies.  Poor  Ruth!  She  cast  herself,  in  per- 
fect abandonment  of  grief,  upon  his  lifeless  and 
disfigured  corpse;  and,  now  that  they  have  re- 
moved her  from  the  chamber  of  death,  her 
shrieks  fill  the  house.  His  mother  sits  by  him, 
aJie  image  of  despair,  holding  his  cold  hand  in 
hers,  and  uttering  wails  of  woe  sad  enough  to 
rend  a  Roman's  heart: 

"My  son!  my  son!  lost  and  found,  to  be  torn 
from  me  forever!  Oh,  that  I  had  died  for  thee! 
Thou  and  Ruth  would  then  be  happy.  Would 
to  God  I  had  died  for  thee,  oh,  my  son,  Samuel, 
any  son!"  It  is  like  David  bewailing  Absolom. 

I  write  this  sad  news  to  you,  dear  father, 
knowing  how  deeply  you  will  mourn  his  death; 
for  your  letters  show  me  that  you  have  formed 
for  him  almost  a  paternal  attachment,  carried  so 
far  as  a  promise  to  provide  him  with  a  ship  to 
trade  in  Egypt,  after  his  marriage  with  Ruth 
shall  have  taken  place.  Alas !  instead  of  a  bridal, 
behold  a  funeral.  Already  the  bearers  are  at  the 
.4oor,  and  in  a  few  minutes  he  will  be  borne  forth 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   CP  DAVID.  255 

upon  the  dead-bier  to  the  burial  place  without 
the  city. 

"Oh,"  sighs  Mary  near  me,  as  I  write,  "oh, 
that  Jesus,  the  mighty  Prophet,  had  been  here; 
lie  could  have  healed  him!"  John  had  sent  to 
her  a  message,  saying  that  he  is  travelling  this 
\vay,  on  his  message  of  healing  and  teaching,  and 
may  be  here  this  evening.  But  what  will  it 
avail,  dear  father?  Even  Jesus  cannot  return 
the  dead  to  life!  It  was  never  known  that  the 
'dead  rose  again.  Oh,  if  he  could  have  been  here 
yesterday,  his  power  over  diseases  would  have 
enabled  him  to  save  his  precious  life!  But 
regrets  are  useless.  The  noble  young  man  is 
dead,  and  will  live  again  only  in  the  resurrection 
of  the  just. 

I  hear  the  heavy  tread  of  the  dead-bearers  in 
the  court  below.  The  shrieks  and  wails  of  the 
mourning  women  thrill  my  soul  with  awe.  But 
above  all,  pierces  the  wild  cry  of  anguish  of  the 
bereaved  mother!  Ruth's  voice  is  hushed.  She 
has  been,  for  the  last  hour,  inanimate  as  marble, 
sitting,  with  a  glazed  eye  and  rigid  features,  gaz- 
ing on  vacancy.  Only  by  her  pulse  can  it  be 
said  she  lives!  Poor  maiden!  The  blow  is  too 
terrible  for  her  to  bear. 

My  cousin  Mary  has,  this  moment,  received  a 
small  roll  of  parchment,  which,  from  the  flush  in 
her  cheek,  I  know  to  be  from  her  betrothed. 
She  smiles  sadly,  and  with  tears  in  her  eyes,. 
hands  it  to  me. 

I  have  read  it,  dear  father.     It  reads  as  fol- 


256    THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

lows,  if  I  have  time  to  transcribe  it  before  the 
call  to  follow  the  dead  forth  to  burial  is  given: — 

'•'•  Gadara,  beyond  Judea. 
"The  bearer,  beloved,  is  one  of  the  disciples 
of  Jesus.  His  name  is  Bartimeus.  He  was 
blind  and  poor,  and  subsisted  by  begging;  and, 
as  you  see,  his  sight  is  restored,  and  he  insists 
now  on  going  from  town  to  town,  where  he  has 
been  known  as  a  blind  man,  to  proclaim  what 
Jesus  has  done  for  him.  He  takes  this  to  you. 
J  write  to  say  that  I  wish  thou  mayest  prosper  in 
all  things,  and  find  the  health  for  which  thou 
and  thy  cousin  sought  the  air  of  Mount  Tabor. 
I  have  no  greater  joy  than  to  hear  of  your  wel- 
fare. This  letter  cometh,  beseeching  thee,  lady, 
that  as  we  love  one  another  unfeignedly,  so  may 
we  soon  be  united  in  that  holy  union  which  God 
hath  blessed  and  commanded.  I  would  have 
thee  bear  in  remembrance  that  thou  gavest  thy 
promise  hereto  when  last  we  met  at  Nazareth. 
But,  having  much  to  say,  hereupon,  I  will  not 
commit  it  to  paper  and  ink;  but,  by  to-morrow, 
or  the  day  after,  I  trust,  to  come  to  you,  and 
speak  with  you,  dearly  beloved,  face  to  face, 
those  things  which  now  come  to  my  lips.  Fare- 
well, lady,  and  peace  be  with  you,  and  all  in  your 
house.  Greet  thy  friends  in  my  name,  letting 
them  know  that  we  shall  shortly  be  with  you, 
with  Amos,  your  father,  now  our  dear  brother  in 
the  Lord.  There  are  many  things  which  I  have 
seen  and  heard,  touching  my  holy  Master,  Jesus, 
and  his  holy  mission  to  the  world,  which  I  will 
declare  unto  you  when  v/e  meet,  that  you  also 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  257 

may  have  fellowship  with  us  in  those  things 
which  we  know  and  believe  concerning  him. 
'My  Master  saluteth  thee,  and  all  in  your  house; 
Amos,  also,  greeteth  thee  with  a  kiss.  This  is 
the  second  epistle  I  have  written  unto  you  from 
this  place." 

"Oh,  that  the  mighty  Prophet  had  come  one 
day  sooner!"  cried  Mary.  "What  woe  and 
anguish  would  have  been  spared  poor  Ruth  and 
his  mother!  But  the  will  of  Jehovah  be  done." 

We  hear  now,  dear  father,  the  voice  of  the 
governor  of  the  funeral,  bidding  us  come  down. 
to  bury  the  dead. 

Farewell,  dearest  father.  I  know  you  will 
shed  a  tear  to  the  memory  of  the  noble  youth, 
whose  death  has  this  day  rilled  all  Nain  with 
mourning.  As  I  look  from  the  lattice,  I  see  the 
concourse  of  people  to  be  immense,  filling  all 
the  street.  Now,  may  the  God  of  our  father 
Abraham  preserve  and  keep  you,  and  suffer  us 
once  more  to  meet  face  to  face  in  joy  and  peace. 

Your  dutiful  and  sorrowful  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER  XXI. 

My  Dearest  Father: — I  seize  my  pen,  which  I 
laid  down  an  hour  ago,  in  order  to  follow  to  his 
burial,  the  son  of  our  hostess,  to  recount  to  you 
one  of  the  most  extraordinary  things  which  ever 
happened,  and  which  fills  us  all  with  such  joy 
and  wonder,  that  I  fear  my  trembling  fingers  will 
scarcely  express  legibly  what  I  have  to  tell  you. 

As  I  told  you  in  my  letter  just  finished,  I  was 
called  away  to  accompany  the  weeping  mother 
to  the  burial  place  outside  of  the  gates.  But 
when  I  reached  the  courtyard,  where  the  body  of 
her  son  lay  upon  a  bier,  which  the  bearers  had 
already  raised  upon  their  shoulders,  the  deep 
grief  of  poor  Ruth  overcame  her  wholly,  and  I 
led  her  to  her  room,  where  she  sank  insensible 
upon  her  couch.  I  could  not  leave  her  in  her 
situation,  and  the  procession  went  forth  from  the 
house  without  me;  Mary,  as  she  walked,  sup- 
porting upon  her  arm  the  bereaved  mother,  chd 
in  her  mourning  weeds. 


THE   PRIXCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  25S 

As  the  funeral  train  passed  the  lattice,  it 
seemed  endless,  so  vast  a  number  of  people  ac- 
companied the  body,  to  do  honor  to  a  widow  in 
Israel.  At  length  it  passed  by,  and  I  was  left 
alone  with  the  motionless  Ruth.  She  seemed  to 
sleep,  though  every  few  moments  she  would 
murmur  the  name  of  the  dead.  I  sat  by  her, 
reflecting  upon  the  mysterious  ways  of  God  in 
bringing  this  widow's  son  safely  home  from  the 
thousand  dangers  to  which  he  had  been  exposed, 
from  shipwreck  and  bondage,  to  gladden  her 
soul  with  his  presence  for  a  few  hours,  and  then 
to  die  in  her  arms!  As  I  gazed  on  the  marble 
countenance  of  the  bereaved  maiden,  I  could  not 
but  pray  that  she  might  not  recover  from  her 
swoon,  to  revive  to  the  bitter  realization  of  her 
loss,  and  to  the  renewal  of  her  grief. 

Suddenly,  I  heard  a  very  great  shout.  I 
started,  and  hastened  to  the  lattice.  It  was  re- 
peated louder,  and  with  a  glad  tone,  that  showed 
me  it  was  a  shout  of  joy.  It  seemed  to  come 
from  beyond  the  city  walls,  and  from  a  hundred 
voices  raised  in  unison.  I  knew  that  the  house- 
top overlooked  the  walls,  and  seeing  that  Ruth 
moved  not,  I  ascended  rapidly  to  the  parapet,  the 
shouts  and  glad  cries  still  increasing  as  I  went 
up,  and  exciting  my  wonder  and  curiosity. 
Upon  reaching  the  flat  roof,  and  stepping  upon 
the  parapet,  I  saw  coming  along  the  street, 
towards  the  house,  with  the  speed  of  the  ante- 
lope, Elec,  our  Gibeonite  slave.  He  was  waving; 
his  hands  wildly,  and  crying  out  something 
•which  I  could  not  distinctly  hear.  Behind  him  J. 


2CO          THE   PRINCE   OP  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

saw  two  youths  running  also,  appearing  to  be  the 
bearers  of  some  great  tidings. 

I  knew  something  wonderful  must  have  oc- 
curred, but  could  not  divine  what  it  could  be. 
On  looking  towards  the  gate,  from  which  direc- 
tion the  shouts,  at  intervals,  continued  to 
approach,  I  discovered,  on  the  hill-side  of  the 
cemetery,  many  people  crowded  together,  and 
evidently  surrounding  some  person  in  their 
midst ;  for  the  whole  order  of  the  procession  was 
broken  up.  The  bier,  I  could  not  discern,  nor 
could  I  comprehend  how  the  solemnity  of  the 
march  of  the  funeral  train  was  so  suddenly 
changed  to  a  confused  multitude,  rending  the 
sky  with  loud  acclamations.  The  whole  body  of 
people  was  pressing  back  towards  the  city. 

The  persons  whom  I  had  first  seen  running 
along  the  street,  now  made  themselves  audible 
as  they  drew  nigher. 

"He  is  alive!  he  is  alive!"  shouted  Elec. 

"He  has  been  raised  from  the  dead !"  cried  the 
young  man  next  behind  him. 

"He  lives,  and  is  walking  back  to  the  city!" 
called  the  third,  to  those  who,  like  me,  had  ran 
to  their  house-tops  to  know  the  meaning  of  the 
uproar  we  heard. 

"Who — who  is  alive?"  I  eagerly  demanded  of 
Elec,  as  he  passed  beneath  the  parapet.  ''What 
is  this  shouting,  O  Elec?" 

He  looked  up  to  me  with  a  face  expressive  of 
the  keenest  delight,  mixed  with  awe,  and  said: 

"Young  Rabbi  Samuel  is  come  to  life!  He  is 
no  longer  dead.  You  will  soon  see  him,  for  they 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  Z£t 

are  escorting  him  back  to  the  city;  and  every*, 
body  is  mad  with  joy.  Where  is  Ruth,  the 
maiden?  I  am  come  to  tell  her  the  glorious 
news." 

With  emotion  that  I  cannot  describe,  hardly 
believing  what  I  heard,  I  hastened  to  Ruth,  in 
order  to  prevent  the  effects  of  too  sudden  joy. 
Upon  reaching  the  apartment,  I  found  that  the 
voice  of  Elec,  who  had  shouted  the  news,  of 
which  he  was  the  bearer,  in  her  ears,  had  roused 
her  from  her  stupor  of  grief.  She  was  looking 
at  him  wildly  and  incomprehensibly.  I  ran  to 
her,  and  folding  her  in  my  arms,  said: 

"Dear  Ruth,  there  is  news — good  news!  It 
must  be  true.  Hear  the  shouts  of  gladness  in  all 
the  town!" 

"Lives!"  she  repeated,  shaking  her  head;  "no, 
no,  no!  Yes,  there!"  she  said,  raising  her 
beautiful,  glittering  eyes  to  heaven,  and  pointing 
upward. 

"But  on  earth  also,"  cried  Elec,  with  positive- 
ness.  "I  saw  him  sit  up,  and  heard  him  speak, 
as  well  as  ever  he  was!" 

"How  was  it?     Let  me  know,"  I  cried. 

"How?  Who  could  have  done  such  a  miracle 
but  the  mighty  Prophet  we  saw  at  Jerusalem?" 
he  answered. 

'"Jesus?"  I  exclaimed  with  joy. 

"Who  else  could  it  be?  Yes;  he  met  the  bier 
just  outside — But  here  they  come!" 

Elec  was  interrupted  in  his  narrative  by  the  in- 
creased noise  of  voices  in  the  streets,  and  the 
tramp  of  hundreds  of  feet.  The  next  moment 


262          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

the  room  was  filled  with  a  crowd  of  the  most 
excited  persons,  some  weeping,  some  laughing, 
as  if  beside  themselves.  In  their  midst  I  beheld 
Samuel  walking,  alive  and  well,  his  mother  cling- 
ing to  him,  like  a  vine  about  an  oak. 

"Where  is  Ruth?"  he  cried.  "Oh!  where  is 
she?  Let  me  make  her  happy  with  my 
presence." 

"I  gazed  upon  him  wi^Ai  awe,  as  if  I  had  seen  a 
spirit. 

Ruth  no  sooner  heard  his  voice  than  she 
littered  a  shriek  of  joy.  "He  lives — he  indeed 
lives!"  and  springing  forward,  she  was  s?ved 
from  falling  to  the  ground  by  being  clasped  to 
his  manly  breast. 

"Let  us  kneel  and  thank  God!"  he  said. 

For  a  few  moments  the  scene  was  solemn  and 
touching,  beyond  any  spectacle  ever  exhibited  on 
earth.  The  newly-risen  from  the  dead  knelt  in 
the  midst  of  the  floor,  with  his  mother  on  his 
right,  leaning  her  head  upon  his  shoulder,  and 
Ruth  clasped  in  his  left  arm,  and  fast  embracing 
him  as  if  he  were  an  angel,  who  would  else 
spread  his  wings  and  ascend,  leaving  her  behind. 
Mary  and  I  knelt  by  her  side,  while  all  the  people 
"bowed  their  heads  in  worship,  as  he  lifted  up  his 
voice  in  grateful  acknowledgments  to  the  Giver 
of  life  and  health,  for  restoring  both  to  him. 
"When  he  had  performed  this  first  sacred  duty,  he 
rose  to  his  feet,  and  received  all  our  embraces. 
Hundreds  came  in  to  see  his  face,  and  every 
tongue  was  eloquent  in  praise  of  the  power  of 
Jesus. 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID  263 

"And  where  is  this  holy  Prophet?"  I  asked  of 
Mary.  "Shall  he  be  forgotten  amid  all  our  joy?" 

"We  thanked  him  there  with  all  our  hearts, 
and  bathed  his  hands  with  tears  of  gratitude," 
she  answered;  "but  when  they  would  have 
brought  him  into  the  city  in  triumph,  he  con- 
veyed himself  away  in  the  confusion,  and  no  one 
could  see  aught  of  him.  But  John,  who  was 
with  him,  told  me  he  would  come  into  the  city 
after  quiet  was  restored,  by  and  by,  and  he  would 
bring  him  to  our  abode." 

"Oh!  I  shall  then  behold  him,  and  thank  him 
also,"  I  cried.  "Make  known  to  me,  Mary,  the 
particulars  of  this  wonderful  miracle,"  I  asked  of 
her;  for  though  I  saw  Samuel  now  seated,  and 
eating  in  the  room,  served  by  his  glad  mother 
and  the  happy  Ruth,  while  all  looked  on,  to  see 
if  he  really  ate,  and  though  I  believed  in  the 
power  of  Jesus  to  do  all  things,  yet  I  could 
hardly  realize  that  he  whom  I  had  seen  carried 
out  a  dead  man  on  his  bier,  I  beheld  now  seated 
at  table,  partaking  of  food,  alive  and  well. 

"I  will  tell  thee  all,"  answered  Mary,  'whose 
face  shone  with  a  holy  light,  radiating  from  her 
intense  happiness;  and,  leading  me  apart,  she 
said : 

"As  we  went  weeping  forth,  slowly  following 
the  bier,  and  had  passed  the  gate,  we  saw,  com- 
ing- along  the  path  through  the  valley  leading  to 
Tabor,  a  party  of  twelve  or  thirteen  men  on  foot. 
They  were  followed  by  a  crowd  of  men,  women 
and  children  from  the  country,  and  were  so  mov  - 
ing  that  they  would  meet  us  at  the  crossing  of 


264          THE   PRINCE   OP   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

the  stone  bridge.  Hearing  some  one  say,  'It  is 
the  Prophet  of  Nazareth,  with  his  disciples/  I 
looked  earnestly  forward,  and  joyfully  recog- 
nized Jesus  at  their  head,  with  John  walking  by 
his  side. 

"  'Oh,  that  Jesus  had  been  in  Nain,  when  thy 
son  was  sick!'  I  said  to  the  widow,  pointing  him 
out  to  her,  as  the  Prophet  and  his  company 
stopped  at  the  entrance  to  the  bridge,  and  drew 
to  one  side,  for  the  way  was  too  narrow  for  both 
parties  to  cross  at  the  same  time.  Upon  looking 
up  and  seeing  him,  and  marking  his  benign 
countenance,  and  how  sorrowfully  he  gazed 
upon  her,  and  recollecting  how  he  might  have 
prevented  her  son's  dying,  had  he  been  in  Nain, 
the  poor  lady  could  no  longer  command  her 
grief,  which  broke  forth  afresh ;  and  covering  her 
face  with  her  veil,  she  wept  so  violently  that  all 
eyes  were  piteously  fastened  upon  her.  I  ob- 
served that  the  holy  Prophet's  rested  upon  her 
•with  compassion;  and,  as  the  widow  came  oppo- 
site where  he  stood,  he  advanced  a  step  towards 
us,  and  said  in  a  voice  of  thrilling  sympathy: 

"Weep  not,  mother.  Thy  son  shall  live 
again !" 

" '  I  know  it,  O  Rabboni,  at  the  last  day/  she 
answered.  'He  was  so  noble — so  young — he 
was  all  to  me,  and  had  been  so  long  absent  in  far 
lands,  only  to  come  home  to  die.  I  know  that 
thou  art  a  Prophet  come  from  God,  and  that  all 
good  works  follow  thee.  Oh,  if  thou  hadst  been 
here,  my  son  need  not  have  died.  Thy  word 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  265 

would  have  healed  him.     But  now  he  is  d<ead! 
dead!  dead!' 

The  bereaved  mother  then  poured  forth  her 
•iears  afresh. 

'  'Daughter,  weep  not.    I  will  restore  thy  son'.' 

"'What  saith  he?'  cried  some  Pharisees  who 
were  in  the  funeral;  'that  he  will  raise  a  dtad 
man?  This  is  going  too  far.'  And  they  srnUtd 
and  scoffed. 

"But  Jesus  laid  his  hand  upon  the  pall  over  the 
body,  and  said  to  those  who  bare  the  bier: 

"  'Rest  the  bier  upon  the  ground.' 

"They  instantly  stood  still  and  obeyed  him. 
He  then  advanced  amid  a  hushed  silence,  and, 
uncovering  the  marble  visage,  touched  the  hand 
of  the  dead  man,  and  said,  in  a  loud  and  com- 
manding voice: 

'  'Young  man,  I  say  unto  thee,  Arise!11 

"There  was  a  moment's  painful  stillness 
through  the  vast  multitude.  Every  eye  was 
fixed  upon  the  bier.  His  voice  was  heard  by  the 
spirit  of  the  dead,  and  it  came  back  to  his  body. 
There  was  visible  a  living,  trembling  emotion  of 
the  hitherto  motionless  corpse!  color  flushed  the 
livid  cheek;  the  eyelids  opened,  and  he  fixed  his 
eyes  on  Jesus ;  he  raised  his  hand,  his  lips  moved ; 
he  sat  up  on  the  bier,  and  then  spake  aloud  in  his 
natural  voice,  saying: 

'"Lo!  here  I  am.' 

"Jesus  then  took  him  by  the  hand,  and,  assist- 
ing him  to  alight  upon  his  feet,  he  led  him  to  his 
mother,  and  delivered  him  to  her,  saying: 
'Woman,  behold  thy  son !' 


566         THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

"Upon  seeing  this  miracle,  thfe  people  shouted 
\vith  joy  and  wonder,  and  there  came  a  great  fear 
on  us  all;  and,  lifting  up  their  voices,  they  who 
so  lately  mourned  and  bewailed  the  dead,  glori- 
fied God,  saying,  'God  has  indeed  visited  his 
people  Israel.  A  great  Prophet  is  risen  up 
among  us.  The  Messias  is  come,  and  Jesus  is 
very  Christ,  with  the  keys  of  death  and  hell.' 

"With  such  words  and  exclamations,  and 
great  shouts  of  rejoicing,  the  multitude  sur- 
rounded the  restored  young  man,  and  proceeded 
to  escort  him  back  to  the  city;  the  great  mass  of 
the  people  being  attracted  more  by  the  raised  to 
life  than  by  the  august  person  by  whose  act  it 
had  been  done.  I  sought  out  Jesus,  to  cast  my- 
self at  his  feet,  but  he  shrunk  from  the  homage 
and  gratitude  which  his  mercy  to  us  had  awak- 
ened. Thus,  humility  is  an  element  of  all 
power." 

Such,  my  dear  father,  is  the  narrative  of  the 
restoration  to  life  again  of  Samuel,  the  son  of 
Sarah,  of  Nain.  I  give  it  to  you  in  its  simple 
outlines.  It  will  not  fail  to  command  your  be- 
lief. The  miracle  was  performed  in  open  day,  in 
the  presence  of  thousands.  The  opposers  of 
Jesus,  the  hostile  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  do  not 
deny  the  miracle,  for  they  were  convinced  of  the 
reality  of  the  death  of  the  young  man;  for  he 
died,  as  I  have  before  said,  of  the  plague,  and  his 
corpse  was  a  loathsome  sight  to  those  who  beheld 
it;  yet,  wonderful  to  relate,  when  he  was  restored 
to  life  by  the  power  of  Jesus,  he  sat  up,  free  from 
all  external  signs  of  the  putrid  disease,  his  skin 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OP  HAVID.  267 

fair  and  smooth,  and  his  whole  aspect  that  of 
ruddy  health  and  manly  beauty.  No  man  could 
doubt,  therefore,  that  a  miracle  had  been  per- 
formed, and  of  the  most  extraordinary  kind;  for 
never  was  it  heard  before  that  the  dead  were  re- 
stored to  life.  This  miracle  of  restoration  from 
the  dead,  of  Samuel,  the  widow's  son,  has  caused 
hundreds  this  day  to  confess  his  name,  and  to 
believe  in  him  as  the  anointed  Shiloh  of  Israel. 

Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  conversed  with 
Samuel  upon  the  consciousness  which  he  had  of 
being  dead.  He  replies,  that  it  seemed  to  him 
:hat  he  had  been  in  a  dream,  the  chain  of  which 
was  now  broken,  and  could  not  be  recollected 
again.  "Fragments,"  said  he,  "of  a  delightful 
condition  of  splendor;  of  glory  and  bliss;  of 
music  ineffable,  and  scenes  indescribable,  passed 
before  my  mind  for  a  few  moments  after  standing 
upon  my  feet;  but  they  presently  melted  away; 
and  I  can  now  only  recollect  that  there  were 
such!  When  I  found  myself  upon  the  bier,  I 
felt  no  surprise;  for,  the  fact  that  I  was  being 
taken  to  my  burial  seemed  instinctively  to  pre- 
sent itself  to  my  reanimated  consciousness." 
Many  of  the  doctors  have  been  to  see  him 
through  the  day,  and  have  put  profound  ques- 
tions to  him,  touching  the  state  of  the  soul  out 
of  the  body;  but  he  could  give  them  no  satisfac- 
tion, all  appearing  to  him  like  shining  fragments 
of  a  gorgeous  vision. 

Jesus  came  into  the  town  during  the  evening, 
and  abode  with  us.  You  should  have  witnessed 
how  the  gratitude  of  the  happy  mother,  and  of 


568          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAVm 

I 

:itfie  no  less  happy  Ruth,  exhibited  itself.  They 
anticipated  his  every  wish,  and  seemed  to  desire 
that  he  had  a  thousand  wants,  that  they  might 
administer  to  them.  But  his  life  is  simple — his 
\vants  few.  He  thinks  little  of  comforts ;  and  so 
that  he  can  speak  of  the  kingdom  of  God  to  those 
about  him  he  forgets  to  partake  of  the  food  be- 
fore him.  We  also  forget  all  things  else  when  he 
Speaks,  and  stand  or  sit  around  him,  drinking  in 
the  rich  eloquence  of  his  wise  lips.  The  more  I 
see  of  him,  dear  father,  the  more  I  stand  in  awe 
of  him,  and  love  him. 

Mary  is  to-morrow  to  become  the  bride  oi 
John,  and  Jesus  will  be  present  at  the  wedding, 
for,  while  he  severely  rebukes  sin  and  folly,  he 
sanctifies,  by  his  presence,  the  holy  rites  of  mar- 
riage, which  God  ordained.  Next  month,  the 
seventh  day  of  the  month,  the  happy  Ruth  con- 
sents to  give  her  hand  to  the  noble  youth  whom 
she  has  so  wonderingly  received  alive  from  the 
dead. 

On  the  eve  of  the  seventh  day  I  shall  depart 
hence,  with  John  and  Mary,  for  Jerusalem, 
I  will  write  you  again. 

tYour  loving  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER  XXII. 

Once  more,  my  dear  father,  I  address  a  letter 
to  you  from  this  holy  city.  This  morniug,  when  I 
awoke  at  the  sound  of  the  silver  trumpets  of  the 
priests,  ringing  melodiously  from  the  top  of 
Mount  Moriah,  I  experienced  anew  that  pro- 
found devotion  which  the  children  of  Abraham 
must  always  feel  in  the  city  of  God,  and  in  the 
presence  of  His  very  Temple.  As  I  ascended 
the  roof  of  the  house  to  prayer,  the  gorgeous  pile 
of  the  Temple  towered  heavenward  from  the 
summit  of  Moriah,  in  all  the  magnificence  of  its 
celestial  beauty.  The  azure  wreaths  of  incense 
were  already  curling  upward  into  the  still  skies, 
while  the  murky  cloud  sent  up  by  the  burnt  sac- 
rifice rolled  darkly  above  the  pinnacle,  casting  an 
awful  shade  over  all  the  Temple.  As  it  sailed 
slowly  onward,  and  hung  above  the  valley  of 
Kedron,  the  sun  rose  and  gilded  its  massive 
edges  as  if  they  had  been  turned  out  with  gold. 
Louder  and  clearer  rang  the  trumpets,  and  every 


270          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

house-top  soon  had  its  group  of  worshipers, 
while  along  the  streets  rolled  the  tide  of  people, 
some  leading  lambs,  others  driving  goats  before 
them,  others  .carrying  doves  in  their  bosoms,  to 
be  offered  to  the  Lord  by  the  priest.  It  was  a 
joyous  morning  to  me,  dear  father,  for  ^milius, 
the  noble  Roman  Prefect,  was  this  day,  volun- 
tarily to  present  himself  at  the  Temple,  to  be 
made  a  proselyte  to  the  holy  faith  of  Israel.  I 
will  not  now  detain  you  by  recording  the  argu- 
ments by  which  he  was  led  to  renounce  idolatry 
and  become  a  Jew !  Pilate,  the  Procurator,  fav- 
ored, instead  of  opposing  it,  believing  that  it 
would  conciliate  the  Jews  in  favor  of  the  Ro- 
mans; he  resolved,  therefore,  to  grace  the  right 
with  his  presence.  I  could  see  him  proudly  roll- 
ing onward  towards  the  Temple  in  his  gilded 
chariot,  escorted  by  a  score  of  guards,  blazing  in 
their  Grecian  cuirasses.  I  sought  in  vain  the 
form  of  JEmil'ms ;  but  he  reached  the  Temple  by 
another  street.  The  morning  was,  therefore,  ad- 
ditionally lovely  to  me.  I  thought  I  had  never 
seen  the  olive  groves,  on  the  hill-side,  beyond  the 
king's  gardens,  so  green,  nor  the  harvest  so  yel- 
low, as  they  undulated  in  the  soft  breeze  of  the 
opening  morn.  The  lofty  palms  everywhere  ap- 
peared to  bend  and  wave  their  verdant  fans  with 
joyous  motion.  The  birds  in  the  palace  gardens 
sang  sweeter  and  louder;  and  Jerusalem  itself 
seemed  more  beautiful  than  ever.  While  I  was 
gazing  upon  the  scene,  and  adoring  God,  and 
thanking  him  for  the  conversion  of  JEmilius, 
Rabbi  Amos  came,  and  said  that  he  would  take. 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.]         271 

tis  to  the  Temple,  for  he  was  at  leisure  on  that 
morning.  We  were  soon  on  our  way,  climbing 
the  paved  pathway  to  Moriah.  Oh,  how  sub- 
limely towered  the  divine  Temple  above  our 
heads,  seemingly  lost  in  the  blue  of  the  far 
heaven!  The  great  gates  opening  North  and 
South,  to  the  East  and  West,  were  thronged  with 
the  multitude  pressing  through ;  while,  from  the 
galleries  above  each  gate  pealed  forth  the  clear- 
voiced  trumpets  of  God  in  ceaseless  reverbera- 
tion. My  uncle  pointed  out  to  me  the  massive 
doors,  all  overlaid  with  sheets  of  beaten  gold,  and 
the  floor  of  green  marble,  on  which  we  trode. 
Pie  bade  me  notice  the  costly  entablature  of  col- 
ored stones,  exquisitely  worked  with  the  Gre- 
cian's chisel;  and  especially  the  roof  of  fretted 
silver,  set  with  precious  stones,  the  or.yx,  beryl, 
sap-ohire,  carbuncle,  and  jasper.  I  was  dazzled 
by  the  magnificence,  and  awed  by  the  vast  extent 
of  the  space  of  splendor  surrounding  me;  while 
ten  thousands  of  people  were  to  be  seen  moving 
towards  the  altar  of  sacrifice.  From  that  superb 
court,  I  was  led  into  a  hall  nearly  a  hundred 
cubits  in  length,  its  ceiling  of  pure  gold,  sus- 
tained by  a  thousand  and  one  columns  of 
porphyry  and  white  marble,  ranged  alternately. 
Sudi  richness  I  had  never  conceived  of,  or 
tho-ight  possible  on  earth.  But  when  Rabbi 
Am-os  explained  that  they  all  were  made  after 
patterns  of  heavenly  things,  I  ceased  to  marvel, 
and  only  wished  I  might  one  day  dwell  in  those 
celestial  abodes,  where,  the  holy  Jesus  teacfies 
us,  are  mansions  not  made  with  hands,  of  endless 


$72          THE   PIUNCE   OP   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

iuration,  reserved  for  all  the  good  and  virtuous. 

I  was  not  permitted  to  approach  the  sacred 
chamber,  where  stood  the  four  thousand  vessels 
of  gold  of  Ophir,  used  in  the  sacrifices  on  great 
days;  and  this  being  a  high  day,  I  saw  no  less 
than  six  hundred  priests  standing  about  the 
altar,  each  with  a  golden  censer  in  his  hand. 
Beyond  was  the  holy  ark  of  the  covenant,  over 
which  the  cherubim  hovered,  their  wings  meet- 
ing, and  between  them  is  the  mercy-seat!  As 
this  was  the  Holy  of  Holies,  I  was  not  permitted 
to  see  it;  but  its  position  was  pointed  out  to  me 
within  the  veil,  which  conceals  from  all  eyes  but 
that  of  the  High  Priest  once  a  year,  the  seat  of 
God's  throne  on  earth,  alas,  now  left  vacant  since 
the  glory  of  the  Shechinah  departed  from  the 
Holy  of  Holies! 

The  air  of  the  vast  Temple  was  delicious  with 
the  fragrance  of  burning  frankincense.  As  the 
victims  bled,  and  the  smoke  ascended,  the  people 
fell  on  their  faces  and  worshiped  God.  It  was 
an  impressive  scene,  and  made  my  heart  stand 
still.  I  seemed  to  expect  to  hear  the  voice  of 
Jehovah  breaking  the  stillness  that  -followed. 
But,  after  a  few  moments'  silence,  a  sudden 
trumpet  note  thrilled  every  soul  in  the  countless 
multitude.  It  was  followed  by  a  peal  of  music 
that  shook  the  air,  from  a  choir  of  two  thousand 
singers,  male  and  female,  of  the  sons  and  daugh- 
ters of  Levi,  who  served  in  the  Temple.  Enter- 
ing from  the  southern  court,  they  advanced  in 
long  procession,  singing  sacred  chants,  and  play- 
ing on  sacbut  and  harp,  psalter  and  nebbld 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          27$ 

chinna  and  tympana.  As  they  ascended  to  the 
choir,  their  voices,  mingling  with  the  instru- 
ments, filled  all  the  Temple.  I  never  heard  be- 
fore such  sublime  harmony;  especially  when,  on 
reaching  the  elevated  choir,  a  thousand  Levites, 
with  manly  voices,  joined  them,  and  the  whole 
company  chanted  one  of  the  sublimest  'of  the 
Psalms  of  David.  I  was  overcome — my  senses 
dissolved  in  a  sea  of  seraphic  sounds;  my  heart 
swelled  as  if  it  would  break,  and  I  found  relief 
only  in  a  flood  of  tears. 

When  the  chant  was  concluded,  the  whole 
multitude  responded,  "Amen,  and  Amen,"  like 
the  deep  voice  of  an  earthquake  suddenly,  shak- 
ing the  foundations  of  the  Temple. 

At  length  I  beheld  a  train  of  priests  following- 
the  High  Priest  as  he  marched  thrice  around  the 
altar.  In  the  procession  I  discovered  a  company 
of  proselytes,  escorted  by  twelve  aged  priests, 
with  long  snowy  beards,  and  in  vestments  of  the 
purest  white.  Among  the  proselytes,  which 
numbered  full  a  score  of  men,  from  almost  every 
nation,  I  detected  the  tall  and  noble  figure  of  the 
Roman  yEmilius.  He  was  robed  in  a  black  gar- 
ment from  head  to  foot.  But  upon  approaching 
the  baptismal  basin,  two  young  priests  removed 
this  sable  dress,  and  robed  him  in  white.  I  then 
saw  him  baptized  into  the  family  of  Abraham, 
and  a  new  name  given  him,  that  of  Eleazer.  I 
heard  the  silver  trumpets  proclaim  the  conver- 
sion, and  the  multitudes  shouting  their  joy! 

Of  the  rest  of  the  ceremony  I  have  no  recollec- 
tion, as,  after  the  baptism  of  ^Emilius,  I  was  too 


374  THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   UAVED. 

Happy  to  see  or  think  of  any  one  else.  There 
staads  now,  dear  father,  no  further  bar  to  our 
union.  ^Lmilius  is  become  a  Jew,  and  hence*- 
forth  will  worship  the  God  of  our  fathers!  I 
know  you  said  in  your  last  letter  to  me  that  you 
feared  the  noble  young  Roman  was  led  by  his  at- 
tachment to  me  to  renounce  his  religion,  and  not 
from  honest  conviction  of  its  truth  and  of  its 
falsehood.  But  I  am  assured,  dear  father,  that 
he  acts  from  conviction.  The  conversations  he 
has  had  with  me,  and  with  Rabbi  Amos,  and 
other  of  the  learned  doctors  of  our  nation,  whom 
he  has  met  at  our  house,  with  the  careful  reading 
of  the  Scriptures  of  the  Prophets,  have  not  only 
convinced  him  that  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  is  the 
only  God  of  the  whole  earth,  but  that  the  wor- 
shipers of  idols  are  the  worshipers  of  Satan,  who 
hath  set  up  that  religion  in  opposition  to  that  of 
the  true  God. 

While  I  was  lifting  up  my  heart  in  gratitude 
for  the  happy  conversion  of  vEmilius,  and  while 
the  Jews  were  crowding  about  him  to  extend  to 
him  the  hand  cf  fellowship,  rejoicing  that  so 
noted  a  person  should  embrace  our  faith,  Uncle 
Amos  drew  my  attention  by  exclaiming  with 
gladmtsf: 

"Behold!  there  is  Jesus!" 

"Where?"  I  cried,  trying  to  discover  the  divine 
Prophet  among  the  multitude. 

"Standing  by  yonder  pillar  of  porphyry.  John 
is  on  one  side  of  him  and  Peter  on  the  other. 
He  is  pointing  to  the  altar,  and  explaining  or 


THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          275 

teaching  them  something.  Let  us  try  and  ap- 
proach him!" 

We  at  oHce  made  our  way,  but  with  difficulty, 
towards  the  spot  where  we  had  discovered  him. 
The  rumor  that  the  Christ  was  in  the  Temple 
rapidly  spread,  and  the  whole  multitude  pressed 
towards  the  same  point.  At  length,  we  attained 
our  object  so  as  to  get  within  a  few  feet  of  him. 
Here  a  tall,  richly  attired  Greek  addressed  Rabbi 
Amos,  saying: 

"Sir,  tell  me  who  that  youthful  Jew  is,  whose 
countenance  is  stamped  with  firmness  and  benev- 
olence, so  finely  combined  in  its  expression; 
whose  air  possesses  such  dignity  and  wisdom; 
whose  noble  eye  seems  filled  with  a  holy  sadness, 
and  whose  glance  is  full  of  innocence  and  sweet- 
ness. He  seems  born  to  love  men  and  to  com- 
mand them.  All  seek  to  approach  him.  Pray, 
sir,  who  is  he?" 

"That,  O  stranger,  is  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the 
Jewish  Prophet,"  said  Uncle  Amos,  delighted  to 
point  him  out  to  a  foreigner. 

"Then  am  I  well  rewarded  for  my  journey  in 
turning  aside  to  Jerusalem,"  answered  the  Gre- 
cian. "I  have  ever  heard  of  his  fame  in  Mace- 
donia, and  am  rejoiced  to  behold  him.  Think 
you  he  will  do  some  great  miracle?" 

"He  performs  miracles  not  to  gratify  curiosity, 
"but  to  bear  testimony  to  the  truths  he  teaches, 
that  they  are  delivered  to  him  of  God.  Hark! 
He  speaks,"  cried  my  uncle. 

Every  voice  was  hushed,  as  that  of  Jesus  rose 
clear  and  sweet,  and  thrilling,  like  a  celestial 


276          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

clarion  speaking.  And  he  preached,  dear  father, 
a  sermon  so  full  of  wisdom,  of  love  to  man,  of 
love  to  God,  of  knowledge  of  our  hearts,  of 
divine  and  convincing  power,  that  thousands 
wept;  thousands  were  chained  to  the  spot  with 
awe  and  delight,  and  all  were  moved  as  if  an 
angel  had  addressed  them.  They  cried,  "Never 
man  spake  like  this  man!"  and  certainly  never 
human  lips  dispensed  such  wisdom. 

When  he  had  ended,  the  priests,  seeing  that  he 
had  carried  the  hearts  of  all  the  people,  were 
greatly  enraged,  and  not  being  able  to  vent  their 
hatred  and  fear  in  any  other  way,  they  hired  a  vile 
person  by  the  name  of  Gazeel,  a  robber,  to  take 
one  of  the  blood-stained  sacrificing  knives  from 
the  altar,  and  creep  towards  him  behind  the 
column,  and  assassinate  him.  The  robber  drew 
near,  and  taking  a  favorable  position  to  execute 
the  deed,  raised  his  hand  to  strike  the  Prophet 
from  behind,  when  Jesus  turning  his  head, 
arrested  the  hand  of  the  assassin  in  mid-air,  by  a 
look!  Unable  to  move  a  muscle,  Gazeel  stood 
betrayed  to  all  eyes  in  this  murderous  attitude, 
like  a  statue  of  stone. 

When  Jesus  had  exhibited  him  to  all  the  vast 
concourse  in  this  manner  for  a  few  minutes,  he 
said  to  him: 

"Return  to  those  who  hired  thee.  My  hour  is 
not  yet  come;  nor  can  they  have  any  power  over 
me  until  my  Father's  will  be  fulfilled  concerning 
me." 

The  assassin  bowed  his  head  with  deep  hu- 
mility; the  knife  dropped  from  his  hand  and  rang 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  277 

upon  the  marble  floor;  and  he  sank  at  Jesus'  feet, 
imploring  forgiveness.  The  people  would  have 
torn  Gazeel  in  pieces,  but  Jesus  said: 

"Let  him  depart  in  peace.  The  day  shall 
come  when  he  will  be  willing  to  lay  down  his  life 
to  save  mine.  Ye,  priests,  go  about  to  kill  me," 
he  added,  fixing  his  clear  gaze  upon  the  group 
•which  had  sent  Gazeel.  "For  what  do  ye  seek 
my  life?  Because  I  bear  testimony  to  the 
wickedness  of  your  own.  Ye  lay  heavy  burdens 
on  the  people,  and  will  not  lift  them  with  one  of 
your  fingers.  I  have  come  to  my  own,  and  to 
my  Temple,  and  ye  receive  me  not.  The  day 
cometh  when  this  Temple  shall  be  thrown  down, 
and  not  one  stone  left  upon  another;  and  some 
who  hear  me  shall  behold  and  mourn  in  that  day. 
Oh,  Jerusalem,  thou  that  killest  the  prophets, 
and  stonest  them  that  are  sent  unto  thee,  how  oft 
would  I  have  gathered  thy  children  together,  as 
a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under  her  wings, 
and  ye  would  not.  Thou  shalt  be  left  desolate 
and  cast  out  from  among  cities,  because  thou 
knewest  not  the  day  of  thy  visitation.  But  ye, 
who  would  escape  these  troubles,  seek  to  enter 
my  kingdom,  which  shall  have  no  end;  fly  to  the 
Jerusalem  which  is  above,  and  which  is  above  all, 
whose  foundation  is  eternal,  and  whose  Temple 
is  the  Lord  God  Almighty,  who  is  also  the  light 
and  glory  thereof." 

Upon  hearing  these  words,  there  arose  a  great 
cry  from  ten  thousand  voices: 

"Hail  to  Jesus,  the  king  of  Israel  and  Judah! 


278          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

Hosanna  to  the  Prince  of  David!  We  will  have 
no  king  but  Jesus." 

At  this  shout,  which  was  caught  and  repeated 
beyond  the  four  gates  of  the  Temple,  the  priests 
cried  aloud  that  the  people  were  in  insurrection. 

Pilate,  who  was,  with  his  guard,  just  leaving, 
the  Court  of  the  Gentiles,  hearing  it,  turned  to 
ask  what  it  meant.  One  of  the  priests,  desirous 
of  having  Jesus  slain,  quickly  answered,  "That 
the  people  had  proclaimed  Jesus,  the  Nazarene, 
king,"  and  that  he  was  already  placing  himself  at 
the  head  of  the  people. 

Hearing  this,  Pilate  sent  off  messengers  to  the 
Castle  of  David  for  soldiers,  and  with  his  body- 
guard turned  back  to  the  Temple  gate,  charging 
the  people,  sword  in  hand. 

The  tumult  was  now  fearful,  and  the  blood- 
shed would  have  been  great,  but  Jesus  suddenly 
appeared  before  him — none  saw  how  he  had 
reached  the  place — and  said: 

"There  is  no  insurrection,  O  Roman!  I  am 
Jesus.  I  seek  no  kingdom  but  such  as  my 
Father  hath  given  me.  Neither  thy  power,  nor 
thy  master's,  is  in  peril.  My  kingdom  is  not  of 
this  world." 

Pilate  was  seen  to  bend  his  proud  head  with 
low  obeisance  before  the  Prophet,  and  said 
graciously: 

"I  have  no  wish  to  arrest  thee.  Thy  word,  O 
Prophet,  is  sufficient  for  me.  Of  thee  I  have 
hitherto  heard  much.  Wilt  thou  come  with  me 
to  my  palace,  and  let  me  hear  thee,  and  see  some 
miracle?" 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  279 

"Thou  shall  see  me  in  thy  palace,  but  not  to- 
day; and  thou  shalt  behold  a  miracle,  but  not 
now." 

When  Jesus  had  thus  said,  he  withdrew  him- 
self from  Pilate's  presence;  and  those  who  would 
have  sought  him  to  make  him  a  king  could  no- 
where discover  him. 

The  result  of  this  attempt  of  the  people  to 
make  the  Prophet  their  king,  and  under  his 
direction  to  overthrow  the  Roman  power,  has 
been,  that  the  Roman  authorities,  instigated  by 
Annas  and  the  priests,  begin  to  look  upon  Jesus 
with  eyes  of  jealousy;  and  Pilate  this  morning 
told  a  deputation  of  priests,  who  waited  on  him 
to  petition  him  to  arrest  and  imprison  the  Pro- 
phet, that  on  the  first  proof  they  could  bring  him 
of  his  hostility  to  Caesar,  he  would  send  soldiers 
to  take  him.  To-day  Jesus  was  refreshing  him- 
self in  our  house,  when  several  Scribes  and  Phar- 
isees came  in.  I  saw  by  their  dark  looks  they 
meditated  evil;  and  secretly  sent  Elec  with  a 
message  to  /Emilius,  (now  Eleazer),  asking  him 
to  be  at  hand  to  protect  Jesus;  for  ^milius  is 
devoted  to  him  as  we  are,  and  Jesus  takes  delight 
in  teaching  him  the  things  of  the  kingdom  of 
God. 

Jesus,  knowing  the  hearts  of  these  bad  men, 
said  to  them,  after  they  had  seated  themselves, 
and  remained  some  minutes  in  silence: 

"Wherefore  are  ye  come?" 

"Master,"  said  Jehoram,  one  of  the  chief 
Scribes,  "we  know  that  thou  art  a  Teacher  come 


280  THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   Of   DAVID. 

from  God,  and  fearest  no  man,  nor  regardest  the 
person  of  any  man." 

"Yes,"  added  Zadoc,  a  Levite  of  great  fame 
among  the  people,  "we  have  heard  how  boldly 
thou  speakest  at  all  times ;  and  that  thou  shrink- 
est  from  no  man's  power — not  even  Pilate,  nor 
Herod,  nay,  nor  Caesar,  could  make  thee  refrain 
from  what  thou  wiliest  to  utter.  Is  it  lawful  for  us, 
Jews,  the  peculiar  nation  of  God,  to  pay  tribute 
to  Caesar,  who  is  an  idolater?  Is  it  lawful  for  us 
to  obey  the  laws  of  Pilate,  rather  than  of  Moses? 
We  ask  this  as  Jews,  to  a  Jew.  Tell  us  frankly; 
for  thou  fearest  not  the  face  of  any  man." 

"Let  the  question  rest  simply  upon  the  tribute 
to  the  Romans,"  answered  Jehoram.  "Master, 
ought  we,  the  holy  nation,  to  give  tribute  to  the 
Emperor  Caesar?" 

Jesus  looked  fixedly  upon  them,  as  if  he  read 
their  wicked  designs,  and  said: 

"Show  me  the  tribute  money." 

Zadoc  handed  him  a  penny,  the  Roman  coin 
sent  into  Judea  by  Caesar,  as  our  currency,  and 
which  we  return  to  Rome  again  in  tribute. 
When  Jesus  had  taken  the  money,  he  looked  on 
the  head  of  Augustus  stamped  upon  one  side, 
and  then  turning  to  them,  as  they  waited  breath- 
lessly for  his  answer,  said  sternly: 

"Whose  image  and  whose  name  is  here  im- 
pressed?" 

"Caesar's,"  eagerly  answered  the  whole  party. 

"Then  render  unto  Caesar  the  things  that  be 
Caesar's,  and  unto  God  the  things  that  be  God's," 
was  his  calm  and  wonderful  answer. 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          281 

I  breathed  again;  for  I  feared  he  would  answer 
openly  that  tribute  ought  not  to  be  paid,  which 
they  hoped  he  would  do,  when  they  would  imme- 
diately have  accused  him  to  Pilate  as  teaching 
that  we  ought  not  to  pay  tribute  to  Rome,  and  so 
a  fomenter  of  rebellion. 

But  the  divine  wisdom  of  his  answer  relieved 
all  our  minds ;  while  the  Scribes  and  Levites,  his 
enemies,  looked  upon  him  with  amazement,  in- 
terchanged glances  of  conscious  defeat,  and  left 
the  house. 

Such,  dear  father,  is  his  wisdom,  that  his  ene- 
mies cannot  triumph  over  him.  Oh,  that  you 
could  see  him  and  hear  him.  It  is  worth  a  visit 
from  Egypt  to  Jerusalem  to  see  and  listen  to 
him,  and  behold  his  miracles,  of  which  he  every 
day  performs  one  or  more;  till  disease,  deformity, 
leprosy  and  sickness,  seem  to  have  disappeared 
from  Jerusalem  and  all  Judea. 

When  yEmilius  arrived,  and  found  Jesus  alone 
with  our  family,  unharmed,  he  spoke  freely  his 
satisfaction. 

"^Emilius,"  said  Jesus  to  him,  "thou  art  now 
become  a  Jew.  One  step  more,  and  thou  shalt 
enter  the  kingdom  of  Heaven." 

"What  step,  dear  master?"  he  asked,  earnestly. 

"Thou  must  be  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  thou  shalt  be  partaker  of  eternal  life." 

"Rabboni,"  said  ./Emilius,  "I  verily  thought 
that  to  be  baptized  a  proselyte  of  thy  people  was 
to  be  Moses'  disciple,  and  to  have  the  seal  to  life 
eternal.  Have  I  still  more  to  do?" 

"To  be  my  disciple,  ^Emilius.    I  am  the  end  of 


282          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUS»*OP  DAVID. 

the  Law  of  Moses.  He  that  believeth  in  me, 
though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live.  I  give 
eternal  life  to  as  many  as  believe  in  me.  But 
thou  knowest  not  now  what  I  say;  thou  shalt 
know  hereafter." 

^milius  would  have  questioned  him  further, 
but  Jesus  left  him,  and  went  forth  into  the 
garden,  where  he  remained  late  at  night  in  medi- 
tation and  prayer. 

I  am  rejoiced,  dear  father,  that  you  permit  me 
to  accompany  my  Uncle  Amos  to  Cesarea.  We 
leave  after  the  new  moon.  Believing,  my  dear- 
est father,  that  all  I  have  written  you  touching 
Jesus  has  not  been  in  vain,  and  that  you  are,  with 
me  and  thousands  in  Israel,  ready  to  believe  him 
that  he  is  the  Christ,  the  Deliverer  of  Jacob, 
I  remain  your  affectionate  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER    XXIII. 

My  Dear  Father: — I  have  received  with  joy 
vour  letter,  in  which  you  say  you  shall  leave 
Kgypt  with  the  next  Passover  caravan,  in  order 
to  visit  Jerusalem.  Already  you  must  be  on  the 
way,  and  are  by  this  time  near  Gaza,  where  my 
Uncle  Amos  says  the  caravan  will  halt  to-morrow 
night.  My  heart  bounds  to  embrace  you,  and 
my  eyes  fill  with  bright  tears  at  the  thought  that 
I  shall  once  more  gaze  upon  your  noble  counte- 
nance, and  hear  the  loved  tones  of  your  paternal 
voice.  My  happiness  is  augmented  to  know 
that  you  will  be  here  while  Jesus  is  in  the  city; 
for  it  is  said,  and  John,  Mary's  cousin,  asserts  it, 
that  he  will  certainly  be  at  the  Passover.  I  wish, 
dear  father,  oh,  I  wish  you  to  see  him,  because  I 
feel  that  you  would  be  unable  to  resist  the  con- 
viction that  he  is  the  very  Messias  of  God,  of 
whom  Moses  and  the  Prophets  wrote.  But  if 
his  words,  that  divine  eloquence  and  wisdom 
which  flow  from  his  sacred  lips,  do  not  convince 


U84          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE  HOUiE   OP  DAVID. 

you,  the  miracles  he  will  do  in  proof  of  his  mis- 
sion will  be  resistless.  These  miracles  are  daily 
becoming  more  and  more  mighty  and  amazing. 
For  himself,  for  his  own  aggrandizement,  and 
personal  safety  (for  often  has  his  life  been  put  in 
peril  by  his  foes),  he  never  resorts  to  this  divine 
power;  but  to  give  attestation  to  his  words  of 
truth  that  he  came  from  God,  to  heal  the  suffer- 
ing, to  relieve  the  distressed,  he  daily  performs 
them.  If  man  never  spake  like  him,  man  never 
worked  wonders  such  as  he  works.  He  has  con- 
verted water  into  wine;  healed  by  a  word  the 
dying  son  of  the  nobleman,  Chuza,  Herod's  first 
•officer  of  his  ho  ^hold,  though  many  leagues 
from  him  at  the  time;  he  stilled  a  fearful  tempest 
on  the  sea  of  Tiberius,  by  speaking  to  it  and 
commanding  peace!  In  the  country  of  the  Gad- 
arenes  he  cast  out  unclean  spirits  from  many  de- 
moniacs, who,  in  coming  out  of  the  bodies  of 
those  they  had  possessed,  acknowledged  his 
power,  and  confessed  him,  as  if  against  their  will, 
to  be  the  Christ,  the  son  of  David.  Of  the  rais- 
ing of  the  daughter  of  the  ruler  Jarius,  and  of  the 
son  of  the  widow  at  Nain,  I  have  already  written 
you.  Besides  these  miracles  of  healing  and  rais- 
ing from  the  dead,  he  has  been  seen  walking 
upon  the  sea  a  league  from  the  shore,  as  firmly 
as  if  he  trode  upon  a  floor  of  porphyry;  which 
many  of  the  fishermen  seeing,  they  were  filled 
with  terror,  and  made  all  sail  to  flee  to  the  land, 
\rhere  they  spread  it  abroad.  He  has  restored 
sight  to  the  blind,  whose  eyes  were  wholly  gone ; 
and  created  new  limbs  where  legs  and  arms  had 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OP  DAVID.          285 

been  lost  for  years.  Last  week,  Eli,  a  para- 
lytic, whom  you  knew,  a  scribe  of  the  Levites, 
whose  hand  has  been  withered  nine  years,  so  that 
he  had  been  dependent  on  the  alms  of  the  wor- 
shipers in  the  Temple  for  his  bread,  hearing  of 
the  power  of  Jesus,  sought  him  at  the  house  of 
Uncle  Amos,  where  he  was  abiding;  for  it  was 
our  blessed  privilege  to  have  him  our  guest,  for 
John,  his  beloved  disciple,  being  betrothed  to  the 
fair  daughter  of  Uncle  Amos,  my  gentle  cousin, 
'Mary,  always  led  the  Prophet  to  our  house. 

Jesus  was  reclining  with  our  family  at  the 
evening  meal,  at  the  close  of  the  day  on  which 
the  uproar  had  taken  place  in  the  Temple,  as  de- 
scribed in  my  last  letter  but  one,  when  Eli  came 
and  stood  within  the  door.  Humble  and  doubt- 
ing, his  knees  trembled,  and  he  timidly  and  wist- 
fully looked  towards  Jesus,  but  did  not  speak.  I 
knew  at  once  what  the  afflicted  man  came  for, 
and  approached  him,  saying,  "Fear  not,  Eli;  ask 
him,  and  he  will  make  thee  whole!" 

"Ah,  lady,  I  fear  it  is  too  much  happiness  for 
me  to  expect.  It  is  more  than  I  dare  dream  of. 
But  I  have  come  to  him,  hoping."  His  voice 
trembled,  and  tears  dropped  from  his  eyes,  as  he 
thought  of  his  family  in  poverty,  and  of  his  own 
helplessness.  "How  shall  I  speak  to  the  great 
Prophet,  daughter — I,  a  beggar  at  the  gate  of 
the  Temple?  Speak  for  me,  and  the  Lord  shall 
bless  thee,  child.  My  tongue  cleaves  to  the  roof 
of  my  mouth!"  ' 

Jesus  did  not  see  the  poor  man,  his  face  being; 
turned  towards  Rabbi  Amos,  to'  whom  he  was 


286          THE   PRINCE   OF-  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

explaining  the  meaning  of  the  sacrifice  of  Abel. 
But  leaving  this  conversation,  he  said,  in  a  gentle 
voice,  without  turning  round : 

"Come  to  me,  Eli,  and  ask  what  is  in  thy  heart, 
and  fear  not;  for  if  thou  believest,  thou  shalt  re- 
ceive all  thy  wish!" 

At  this  Eli  ran  forward,  and  casting  himself  at 
Jesus'  feet,  kissed  them  and  said:  "Rabbi,  I  am  a 
poor,  sinful  man;  I  believe  that  thou  art  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  the  Blessed!" 

"Dost  thou  believe,  Eli,  that  I  have  power  to 
make  thee  whole?"  asked  Jesus,  looking  steadily 
upon  him. 

"I  believe,  my  Lord,"  answered  Eli,  bowing 
his  face  to  the  ground. 

"Thy  sins,  then,  be  forgiven  thee.  Rise  and 
go  to  thy  house,  and  sin  no  more,  lest  a  worse 
thing  come  upon  thee." 

"This  man!  forgiveth  he  sins  also?"  cried  the 
venerable  priest,  Manasses,  who  was  at  the  table. 
"He  is  a  blasphemer!  for  God  alone  forgiveth 
sins.  Will  he  call  himself  God?"  And  he  rose 
quickly  up  and  rent  his  robe,  and  spat  upon  the 
floor  in  detestation. 

"Manasses,"  said  Jesus,  mildly,  "tell  me 
whether  is  it  an  easier  thing  to  do:  to  say  to  this 
man  kneeling  here,  'Thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee,' 
or  to  say,  'Stretch  forth  thine  hand  whole  as  the 
other?" 

"It  would  be  more  difficult  to  do  the  latter," 
answered  Manasses,  surprised  at  the  question. 

"Who  alone  can  do  the  latter,  oh,  priest?" 

"God  alone,  who  first  made  him,"  answered 


"THE   PfclNCE    OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  28? 

Manasses,  gazing  upon  the  withered  arm,  which, 
shriveled  to  the  bone,  hung  useless  at  his  side. 

''If,  then,  God  alone  heals,  and  God  alone  for- 
giveth  sins,  both  acts,  Manasses,  would  be  of 
God!  Therefore,"  said  Jesus  to  the  paralytic,  "I 
saymnto  thee,  Eli,  stretch  forth  thy  hand  whole!" 

The  man,  looking  upon  Jesus'  face,  and  seem- 
ing to  derive  confidence  from  its  expression  of 
power,  made  a  convulsive  movement  with  his 
arm,  which,  his  mantle  falling  off,  was  bared  to 
the  shoulder,  exhibiting  all  its  hideous  deformity., 
and  stretched  it  forth  at  full  length.  Imme- 
diately the  arm  was  rounded  with  flesh  and  mus- 
cles; the  pulse  filled  and  leaped  with  the  warm 
life-blood,  and  it  became  whole  as  the  other. 
The  change  was  so  instantaneous  that  it  was 
done  before  we  could  see  how  it  was  done.  The 
amazed  and  wonderingly  delighted  Eli  bent  his 
elbow,  expanded  and  contracted  the  fingers,  felt 
the  flesh  and  pressed  it  with  his  other  hand,  be- 
fore he  could  realize  that  he  was  healed.  And 
he  then  lifted  up  his  voice  in  praise  to  Jehovah, 
and  casting  himself  at  the  feet  of  the  Prophet, 
cried : 

"My  Lord,  and  my  God!" 

"Thou  art  now  healed,  Eli,"  said  Jesus,  im- 
pressively; "go,  and  sin  no  more!" 

"Master,  thou  knowest  all  things!  Lo!  my 
sin  even  was  not  hid  from  thee,  though  I  believed 
no  eye  beheld  it.  Men  and  brethren,"  he  con- 
tinued, addressing  those  who  were  assembled, 
"well  did  this  holy  Prophet  of  God  say  unto  me, 
at  th«  first,  'my  sins  were  forgiven/  instead  of 


288          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

bidding  me  stretch  forth  my  hand;  for  it  was  a 
sin  that  brought  on  my  paralysis,  as  a  punish- 
ment for  it.  I  had  copied  a  parchment  for  the 
Levite,  Phineas,  the  tax-gatherer  for  the  Temple 
service,  and  wickedly  altered  a  figure  in  an 
amount,  by  which  I  should  be  a  gainer  of  four 
shekels  of  silver.  Instantly  upon  writing  the 
last  figure  I  felt  a  stroke  of  palsy,  and  my  arm 
fell  dead  at  my  side.  It  was  God's  punishment. 
This  was  eight  years  ago.  No  eye  knew  the 
deed  but  God's  and  my  own ;  but  I  have  repented 
it  in  deep  humiliation.  Therefore,  as  my  with- 
ered arm  was  for  the  punishment  of  my  sin,  well 
did  my  Lord,  the  mighty  Prophet,  say  unto  me, 
'my  sin  was  forgiven/  for  then  would  my  punish- 
ment have  been  removed ;  for  I  felt  already  at  his 
word  the  blood  coursing  through  my  parched 
veins!" 

Upon  this  frank  acknowledgment,  Manasses 
cried  in  amazement,  "Truly,  God  is  good  to 
Israel.  The  hour  of  his  promise  is  come. 
Verily,  oh,  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  thou  art  the  Son 
of  the  Highest!  Forgive  a  worm  of  the  dust, 
and  my  sins  also!"  And  the  proud  priest  fell  at 
Jesus'  feet,  and  bowed  his  snow-white  locks  upon 
them  in  adoration  and  reverence. 

If,  then,  dear  father,  the  secret  sins  of  men  are 
known  to  Jesus;  if  he  forgives  sins  as  well  as 
heals;  if  he  removes  the  temporal  penalties  which 
God  inflicts  upon  men  for  their  iniquities,  what 
name,  what  power,  what  excellence  shall  we  give 
to  him?  Shall  we  not,  with  Esaias,  call  him  "the 
Wonderful,  the  Counsellor,  the  Mighty  God,  the 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  289 

Prince  of  Peace,  who  shall  sit  upon  the  throne  of 
David  to  establish  it  with  justice  and  judgment 
henceforth,  even  for  ever?"  "Who,"  I  repeat, 
with  Manassas,  "who  forgiveth  sins  but  God 
alone?" 

How  shall  I  be  able  to  remember  and  repeat 
all  the  other  mighty  works  which  Jesus  has  done 
in  proof  of  his  divine  power!  You  must  have 
heard  how  he  fed,  from  a  small  basket  of  bread 
(the  frugal  provision  which  a  lad  had  brought 
into  the  desert  for  his  mother  and  his  brothers), 
no  less  than  five  thousand  men,,  not  naming  the 
women  and  children.  The  vast  multitude  had 
followed  him  far  from  the  cities  to  listen  to  his 
teachings;  people  of  all  classes  and  tongues,  in-r 
eluding  not  a  few  Roman  captains.  When  the 
mighty  host  was  an  hungered,  he  caused  them  to 
sit  down  on  the  grass,  and  from  the  basket  he 
took  forth  bread,  inexhaustibly  increasing  unto 
his  hand  as  he  distributed;  so  that  when  all  had 
eaten,  there  were  gathered  twelve  times  as  much 
in  fragments  as  the  little  basket  originally  held* 
Who,  dear  father,  but  Messias  could  do  this 
miracle?  He  who  could  thus  create  bread  at  his 
will,  is  He  not  the  Lord  of  the  harvests  of  the 
earth?  My  mind  is  overwhelmed,  my  dear 
father — I  am  filled  with  astonishment  and  awe, 
when  I  reflect  upon  the  might,  power,  and 
majesty  of  Jesus,  and  I  fear  to  ask  myself, — who 
more  than  man  is  he?  Is  he  verily  the  awful  and 
terrible  Jehovah  of  Sinai,  visible  in  the  human 
form?  Oh,  wondrous  and  incomprehensible 
mystery!  a  man  with  Arnighty  power,  and  mani- 


290          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE   OP  DAVID. 

festing  the  very  attributes  of  Jehovah,  the  Lord 
of  hosts,  walking  the  earth,  conversing  with  men, 
dwelling  in  our  habitations,  eating  and  drinking 
with  us,  and  sleeping  with  the  peaceful  helpless- 
ness of  an  infant  beneath  our  roofs.  I  dare  not 
trust  my  thoughts  to  penetrate  the  mystery  in 
which  he  walks  among  us  in  the  veiled  Godhead 
of  his  power.  His  beloved  disciple,  John,  says 
that  Jesus  has  promised  the  day  is  not  far  off 
when  this  veil  will  be  removed,  and  we  shall  then 
know  him,  who  he  is,  and  wherefore  he  has  come 
into  the  world,  and  the  infinite  results  of  his 
mission. 

The  Passover  is  nigh  at  hand,  when  we  shall 
again  behold  the  majesty  of  his  presence.  I 
have  just  heard  that  Lazarus,  the  amiable  brother 
of  our  cousins  Mary  and  Martha,  is  taken  sud- 
denly ill,  and  I  close  this  letter  in  order  to  ac- 
company my  cousin  Mary  and  her  father  to 
Bethany,  from  whence  they  have  sent  us  an  ear- 
nest message  of  entreaty.  May  God  preserve  his 
life! 

Your  devoted  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER  XXIV. 

My  Dear  Father: — As  I  was  closing  my  last 
letter  to  you,  intelligence  reached  my  Uncle 
Amos,  that  Lazarus,  the  amiable  brother  of 
Martha  and  Mary,  was  very  ill.  The  message 
was  brought  by  Melee,  the  did  Gibeonite  slave, 
who,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  communicated  to  us 
the  sad  news.  My  cousin  Mary  and  I  at  once  set 
out  to  go  to  Bethany  with  him,  Uncle  Amos 
kindly  offering  his  two  mules  for  us  to  ride  upon, 
promising  himself  to  come  out  also  after  the 
evening  service  in  the  Temple,  if  Lazarus  should 
be  no  better. 

We  were  soon  beyond  the  city-walls,  on  the 
road  to  Bethany,  guided  by  an  aged  servant, 
who,  every  few  minutes,  would  urge  us  to  ride 
faster:  and  then,  lifting  his  hands  and  eyes,  he 
would  lament  the  danger  of  the  young  man,  and 
the  destitution  of  his  sisters,  should  he  be  re- 
moved from  them,  he  being,  dear  father,  their 
only  support,  as  I  once  wrote  you;  his  occupa- 


292  THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE    OP   DAVID.  ' 

tion  being  that  of  copying  out  rolls  of  the  PropK- 
ets,  for  the  uses  of  the  various  synagogues^ 

Although  we  did  not  expect  to  be  able  to  do 
much  by  hastening  to  our  dear  relatives  in  their 
affliction,  yet,  we  hoped,  by  our  presence  and 
heartfelt  sympathy,  to  relieve  much  of  the  solici- 
tude of  the  beloved  sisters  for  their  dear  brother. 

"Knowest  thou,  Melee,  the  disease  that  has 
suddenly  seized  my  cousin?"  asked  Mary,  as  we 
wound  slowly  up  the  path  that  leads  around  the 
steepest  side  of  Olivet. 

"Ah,  dear  me,  noble  lady,  I  know  not,"  an- 
swered Melee,  shaking  his  head:  "He  has  just 
returned  from  the  city,  where  he  had  been  stay- 
ing night  and  day  for  a  week,  laboring  industri- 
ously to  complete  a  copy  of  the  Five  Books  of 
the  blessed  Moses  for  the  Procurator's  chief  cap- 
tain, for  which  he  was  to  receive  a  large  sum  in 
Roman  gold." 

"What  was  the  name  of  this  captain  who  seeks 
to  obtain  our  holy  books?"  I  asked,  hope  half 
answering  the  question  in  my  heart. 

"..EniiHus,  the  brave  knight,  they  say,  who  was 
made  a  proselyte  at  the  last  Passover;  the  same 
who  nearly  captured  the  famous  robber,  Barab- 
bas,  my  lady." 

I  was  rejoiced  to  hear  this  proof  of  the  steady 
desire  of  the  princely  Roman  knight  to  learn  our 
sacred  laws,  you  may  be  assured,  dearest  father. 
But  Melee  went  on  speaking,  and  said: 

"It  was  his  hard  work  to  complete  this  copy 
which  made  him  ill ;  for  he  slept  not,  nor  ceased 
to  toil,  until  he  had  completed  it;  and  when  he 


THE  PRINCE   OP   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  293 

came  home,  with  the  silver-bound  roll  in  his 
hand,  and  laid  it  upon  the  table  before  his  sisters, 
he  fell,  at  the  same  moment,  fainting  to  the 
ground.  When  they  raised  him  up,  he  was  in  a 
fierce  fever,  and  raved  so  that  he  knew  no  one 
around  him." 

''Alas,  poor  Lazarus !"  we  both  exclaimed,  and 
urged  our  mules  forward  at  a  faster  pace,  our 
hearts  bleeding  for  the  sorrow  of  his  sisters,  and 
for  his  sad  condition.  I  have  already  told  you,  in 
a  former  letter,  in  which  I  described  my  visit  to 
the  house  of  Mary  and  Martha,  what  a  noble  and 
good  young  man  their  brother  was — how  he  was*, 
beloved  by  all  who  knew  him;  and  commanded 
the  respect  of  his  superiors  by  his  dignity  of 
bearing,  while  his  manly  beauty  won  the  hearts 
of  the  maidens  who  were  his  sister's  friends.  I 
told  you  how  diligently  he  toiled  for  the  mainte- 
nance of  those  dearly  loved  sisters  and  helpless 
mother,  thinking  only  of  their  comfort,  forgettul 
of  his  own.  I  also  related  how  that  his  many 
virtues  had  won  for  him  the  friendship  of  the 
equally  youthful  Prophet  Jesus,  who  loved  to 
make  his  abode  his  often  abiding  place ;  and  lofty 
must  the  virtues  and  excellencies  of  a  man  be, 
dear  father,  to  command  the  holy  friendship  of 
this  man  of  God.  Nearly  of  the  same  age,  they 
walked  and  discoursed  together  in  sweet  com- 
panionship, like  Jonathan  and  David  in  the 
golden  age  of  our  country's  glory. 

At  length,  an  hour  after  leaving  the  gate  of  the 
city,  we  drew  near  to  Bethany,  and  teheld  the 
roof  of  the  house  of  Lazarus.  Upon  it,  watch- 


294          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE   OP  DAVID. 

ing  towards  Jerusalem  for  us,  we  discovered  the 
graceful  form  of  Mary,  who  no  sooner  saw  us, 
than  she  waved  her  hands  in  earnest  longing. 
In  a  few  moments  we  were  in  her  arms,  mingling 
our  tears  together. 

"Does  he  yet  live?"  I  asked,  scarcely  daring  to 
ask,  as  she  led  us  into  the  house. 

"Yes,  lives,  but  fails  hourly,"  answered  Mary, 
with  forced  composure.  "God  bless  you  both 
for  hastening  to  me." 

At  this  moment,  Martha's  pale  and  suffering 
face,  beautiful  even  in  its  pallor,  appeared  in  the 
door  of  the  inner  room.  Upon  seeing  us,  she 
advanced,  and,  taking  both  our  hands  in  hers, 
she  said,  in  a  touching  whisper,  "You  have  come, 
sweet  friends,  to  see  my  brother  die!" 

She  then  led  us  into  the  room,  where  lay  upon 
a  couch  the  form  of  the  invalid,  whose  perilous 
condition  had  brought  a  pang  to  the  hearts  of  so 
many  dear  and  loving  ones  around  him.  Upon 
entering  the  apartment,  he  turned  his  lustrous 
eyes  upon  us,  and  seemed  to  recognize  us,  as  he 
smiled  faintly  a  grateful  recognition.  Noble  and 
beautiful  as  his  countenance  was  in  health,  I 
thought  that  its  expression,  with  his  brilliant 
eyes  and  feverish  cheek,  was  now  superhuman. 

"He  has  slept  a  little,"  said  Martha,  softly,  to 
me;  "but  his  fever  is  consuming  him.  He  has 
closed  his  eyes  again,  and  seems  heavy;  but  his 
slumbers  are  restless,  as  you  see;  and  he  seems 
to  think  his  dear  friend,  Jesus  the  Prophet,  is  by 
him;  or  he  talks  of  Ruth,  as  if  she  were  not 
present." 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVED.  29  i> 

"And  who  is  Ruth,  dear  Martha?"  I  asked,  as 
I  was  about  to  follow  her  out  of  the  room,  leav- 
ing her  brother  to  his  weary  repose. 

"Alas!  it  was  for  Ruth's  gentle  love's  sake  he 
now  lies  there,"  she  answered;  "there  is  the  sweet 
maiden  kneeling  by  the  other  side  of  his  couch, 
her  tearful  face  buried  in  the  folds  of  the  cur- 
tains of  his  couch.  She  leaves  him  not  a  mo- 
ment; nay,  though  he  does  not  seem  to  be  sen- 
sible of  her  presence,  yet,  when  she  has  once  or 
twice  left  the  room,  he  awakes  directly  and  calls 
for  her." 

I  turned,  and  regarded  with  tender  interest  the 
graceful  and  half-concealed  form  of  the  young 
girl  as  she  bent  over  his  pillow,  her  hand  clasped 
by  his.  At  this  moment  she  looked  up,  and 
directed  her  gaze  towards  me.  Her  face  was  in- 
expressibly lovely,  bathed,  as  it  was,  in  its  glitter- 
ing tear-dew,  and  her  large,  glorious  eyes 
seemed  like  heavens  of  tenderness  and  love. 
Her  hair  would  have  been  raven  black,  save  that 
a  golden  bronze  enriched  its  waving  masses  at 
every  play  of  the  light  upon  it.  As  our  eyes 
met,  she  seemed  to  receive  me  into  her  soul,  and 
my  heart  to  embrace  hers.  Lazarus  moved  and 
murmured  her  name,  and  she  dropped  her  eyes, 
and  bent  like  an  angel  over  him. 

"Who  is  this  marvellously  lovely  maiden?"  I 
asked  of  Martha,  as  we  went  into  the  court  of  the 
hall. 

"The  betrothed  bride  of  our  beloved  brother," 
answered  she;  "sit  with  me  here  in  the  shade, 
beneath  this  vine,  and  I  will  tell  thee  their  sad 


296          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

story.  Lazarus,  you  know,  dearest  Adina,  is  a 
writer  in  the  Temple,  and  by  his  labors  has  lived 
in  humble  competence,  and  surrounded  us  all 
with  many  comforts,  nay,  luxuries;  for  all  we 
have,  our  mother  and  we  owe  to  his  filial  and 
fraternal  love.  His  attachment  to  us  led  him  to 
forego  the  pleasure  of  all  other  cociety;  for  he 
said  he  found  in  our  sweet  bond  of  sisterly  love, 
all  that  he  required  to  render  him  happy.  He 
was,  therefore,  insensible  to  all  the  attractions  of 
the  maidens  who  are  our  acquaintances  and 
friends;  and,  when,  a  few  months  since,  our 
mother  was  gathered  to  her  fathers,  he  said  he 
felt  more  than  ever  his  duty  to  devote  his  life  to 
our  happiness.  We  would  fain  have  induced 
him  to  seek  a  companion  for  life,  knowing  his 
noble  nature,  and  how  he  possessed  in  an  emi- 
nent degree  those  amiable  qualities  which  would 
render,  as  his  wife,  happy  and  honored,  any 
daughter  of  Israel.  But  when  urged  by  us,  he 
would  smile,  and  playfully  say,  that  he  had  but 
a  very  little  heart,  and  that  it  would  hold  no  more 
love  than  mine  and  Mary's. 

"A  few  weeks  ago,  as  he  was  engaged  late  and 
alone  in  the  copying-room  of  the  Temple,  upon  a 
roll  which  the  noble  jEmilius  had  ordered,  and 
which  he  desired  to  have  completed  on  a  certain 
day,  and  for  which  he  was  to  give  him  a  large 
sum,  he  was  startled  by  the  sudden  entrance  of  a 
young  girl  in  great  terror,  who  seemed  to  be  fly- 
ing from  pursuit.  Upon  beholding  him,  she 
bounded  towards  him,  and,  casting  herself  at  his 
feet,  implored  his  protection.  Amazed  and  in- 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OP   DAVID.  297 

terested  he  promptly  promised  it,  but  had  hardly 
spoken  the  words,  before  Annas  entered,  and  ad- 
vanced towards  her.  His  face  was  flushed  with 
rage,  arid  his  voice  was  loud  and  fierce,  as  he 
demanded  her  at  the  hand  of  my  brother. 

"  'Nay,  my  lord  Annas,'  answered  Lazarus, 
boldly;  'were  a  dove  to  seek  shelter  from  a  hawk 
in  my  bosom,  I  would  protect  it,  much  more  a 
distressed  maiden  of  the  daughters  of  Abraham  1* 
and  he  placed  himself  before  the  fugitive. 

"  'Darest  thou  protect  from  me?  She  is  my 
child,  a  wicked  and  disobedient  daughter  of 
Belial!  Resign  her  to  me,  young  scrivener,  or  I 
will  have  thee  sent  to  the  lowest  dungeon  of  the 
castle  of  David.' 

"  'Oh,  save  me!  save  me!'  cried  the  young  girl, 
as  Annas  advanced  to  seize  her.  'I  am  not  his 
child!  I  am  the  orphan  of  Rabbi  Levi,  who  left 
me  and  my  estate  to  this  false  priest,  as  a  sacred 
charge ;  and,  having  done,  I  know  not  what,  with 
my  inheritance,  he  would  sell  me  in  unholy  mar- 
riage to  a  Greek  captain  in  the  Roman  Legion, 
who  offers  him  large  bribes  in  gold  for  me.  And 
when  but  now  he  would  have  delivered  me  up  to 
him,  I  fled  to  the  altars  of  my  God  for  the  protec- 
tion which  man  denied  me;  and,  ignorant  of  the 
way,  and  lost  in  the  labyrinth  of  the  Temple,  I 
found  myself  here.  Rather  than  be  given  into 
the  hands  of  this  fierce  and  terrible  Grecian, 
whom  I  have  seen  only  to  dread,  I  will  cast  my- 
self down  from  the  height.of  the  Temple!' 

"And,  to  the  surprise  and  horror  of  Lazarus, 
she  bounded  from  the  lattice,  and  stood  upon  the 


•298          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

edge  of  the  rock,  which  looks  sheer  three  hun- 
dred feet  down  into  the  valley  beneath. 

"  'Thou  seest,  oh  Annas,  to  what  thy  cupidity 
for  gold  will  drive  this  maiden.  Has  the  land  of 
Israel  sunk  so  low,  that  its  chief  priest  will  sell 
the  daughters  of  the  land  for  gold  to  the  lust  of 
the  Gentiles?  Is  this  the  way  thou  givest  pro- 
tection to  orphans?  Leave  her;  and  until  I  find 
a  protector  for  her,  she  shall  be  a  sacred  guest 
with  my  sisters,  in  their  humble  abode!' 

"  Thy  life  shall  pay  for  this  arrogance,  young 
man,'  answered  the  priest.  'I  have  power  over 
both,  and  will  exercise  it/ 

"  'Not  to  the  danger  and  wrong  of  this  maiden, 
my  lord  Annas,  whom  Jehovah  will  protect, 
since  she  has  trustingly  sought  the  sheltering 
wing  of  his  altars,'  answered  my  brother,  firmly. 
'If  you  continue  to  persecute  her,  I  will  appeal  to 
the  Procurator,  Pontius  Pilate,  against  thee. 
Thou  already  knowest,  that  Roman  justice 
knows  how  to  punish  Jewish  guilt  with  terrible 
severity.' 

"The  result  was,"  continued  Martha,  "that  the 
wicked  priest,  alarmed  by  the  threat  of  appeal  to 
Pilate,  relinquished  his  present  purpose,  and  left 
them,  breathing  menaces  against  my  brother. 
The  same  day  Lazarus  conducted  the  maiden, 
whom  you  already  guess  to  be  Ruth,  to  our 
house;  and  she  has  since  then  been  our  guest, 
and  has  won  all  our  hearts,  as  well  as  our  dear 
brother's.  Pilate,  to  whom  Lazarus  appealed, 
has  placed  the  shield  of  his  protection  between 
them  and  Annas.  It  was  to  obtain  money,  to  be 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  209 

able  soon  to  wed  Ruth,  that  our  brother  has  at 
length  fallen  a  victim  to  his  arduous  toils,  and 
now  lies  on  the  brink  of  the  grave." 

"Is  there  no  hope  for  him?"  I  asked,  after 
listening  to  her  touching  narrative.. 

''None !  The  physicians  say  that  he  will  never 
rise  again." 

"There  is  one  hope  left,"  I  said  eagerly. 

"What  is  that?"  demanded  Martha. 

"Jesus i"  I  answered;  "send  to  him,  oh  Marth?.9 
and  he  will  yet  save  him,  and  raise  him  up  to  life 
and  health." 

I  had  no  sooner  spoken,  than  Mary,  who  over- 
heard me,  uttered  a  scream  of  joy. 

"Yes,  Jesus  has  the  power  to  heal  him,  and 
Jesus  loves  him!  He  will  come  and  save  him 
the  moment  he  hears  of  his  danger." 

Immediately,  Mary  wrote  on  a  slip  of  parch- 
ment, these  brief  and  touching  words: 

"Lord,  behold  he  whom  thou  lovest  is  sick! 
Hasten  to  come  to  us,  that  he  may  live;  for  noth- 
ing is  impossible  with  thee." 

This  message  was  forthwith  despatched  by  the 
hands  of  a  young  friend  to  Bethabara,  beyond 
Jordan,  where  we  learn  Jesus  at  present  abides. 
We  have,  therefore,  no  hope  for  our  dear  rela- 
tive, but  in  the  power  of  the  Prophet.  I  will 
write  as  soon  as  we  hear.  Dear  father, 

Your  attached  daughter. 

ADINA. 


LETTER  XXV. 

My  Dear  and  Honored  Father: — It  is  with 
•emotions  of  the  deepest  grief  that  I  convey  to 
you  the  sad  intelligence  of  the  death  of  Lazarus. 
It  is  amid  the  low  sounds  of  the  plaintive  moans 
of  his  bereaved  sisters  over  his  lifeless  form,  and 
with  my  tears  almost  blinding  my  overflowing 
eyes,  that  I  write  to  you.  The  hand  of  the  Lord 
hath  fallen  heavily  upon  this  household,  and 
stricken  down  its  prop,  smitten  the  oak,  around 
which  clung  these  vine-like  sisters,  vine-like  in 
their  dependence  upon  him,  and  confiding  trust 
in  his  wisdom  and  love.  Now  prostrate  in  the 
dust  they  lie,  stunned  by  the  sudden  and  mysteri- 
ous stroke  of  God's  providence. 

I  have  spoken  to  you  of  the  noble  character  of 
Lazarus,  in  a  former  letter,  dear  father,  how  that 
by  writing  in  the  Scribe's  room  in  the  Temple, 
he  supported  his  venerable  mother  and  sisters, 
while  they,  in  their  affection,  labored  with  the 
needle  in  embroidery  work,  wherein  they  had 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          30V 

very  delicate  skill,  in  order  to  lighten  his  labors. 
To  the  young  men  of  Israel,  Lazarus  was  held  up 
by  the  Elders,  as  a  pattern  of  filial  and  brotherly 
virtue,  and  honest  industry;  and  to  his  sisters, 
Mary  and  Martha,  other  maidens  were  directed 
to  look  for  examples  of  maidenly  piety  and  diii-i 
gent  household  thrift.  Their  humble  dwelling 
was  the  home  of  hospitality  and  kindness,  and 
thither  the  Prophet  of  God,  Jesus,  loveth  to 
resort  whensoever  his  great  labors  will  permit 
him.  Nearly  of  the  same  age,  a  holy  friendship 
had  sprung  up  between  him  and  Lazarus,  who 
so  ioved  the  Blessed  Anointed  One  of  God,  that 
he  would  readily  have  laid  down  his  life  for  him. 
I  have  told  you,  dear  father,  what  a  happy  house- 
hold I  have  seen  it  when  Jesus  completed  the 
number;  for  he  stayed  so  much  with  them  when 
not  preaching,  or  when  wishing  to  rest  a  day  or 
two  from  his  weary  toil,  that  they  came  to  regard 
him  as  one  of  their  family.  Mary  would  devise 
•ways  to  do  him  honor,  and  show  her  respect  and 
affection,  by  working  for  him  silken  covers  for 
the  Books  of  the  Prophets,  which  Lazarus  would 
copy  and  present  to  his  beloved  friend;  while 
Martha  seemed  ever  to  be  thinking  what  and 
how  she  should  administer  to  his  comfort,  by 
providing  every  delicacy  for  her  table.  But  so 
that  Jesus  could  find  listeners  to  his  words  of 
truth  and  wisdom,  like  Mary — who  loved  to  sit 
at  his  feet  and  hear  the  golden  language  fall  from 
his  sacred  lips — he  thought  not  of  meats  or 
drinks. 

One  day,  when  I,  with  Mary  and  Lazarus,  was 


802          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVTO. 

listening  to  his  heavenly  teachings,  wrapt  in 
wonder  and  absorbing  interest,  Martha,  who  was 
preparing  the  meal,  came  and  desired  Mary-  to 
come  and  assist  her;  but  the  dear,  pious  girL 
heeded  not  nor  heard  her,  she  was  feeding,  so 
forgetful  of  all  else,  upon  the  celestial  food  that 
fell  from  the  lips  of  Jesus,  who  was  talking  to  us 
oi  the  kingdom  of  God  and  the  glories  of  heaven, 
and  the  necessity  of  holiness  to  dwell  there.  At 
length,  Martha,  finding  that  Mary  heard  not,  ap- 
pealed to  Jesus,  saying  something  sharply: 

"Lord,  dost  thou  not  care  that  my  sister  hath 
left  me  to  serve  alone?  Bid  her,  therefore,  that 
she  help  me." 

We  turned  with  surprise  to  hear  her,  who  was 
usually  so  gentle  and  good,  thus  forget  what  was 
due  to  the  presence  of  the  Prophet;  and  Lazarus, 
blushing,  was  about  to  speak  and  excuse  his 
sister,  who  looked  as  if  she  were  much  worried 
with  her  domestic  troubles ;  but  Jesus  said  kindly 
tc  her: 

"Martha,  Martha,  thou  art  careful  and 
troubled  about  many  things;  thy  household 
takes  up  too  much  of  thy  time  and  thoughts.  In 
this  world,  but  one  care  is  truly  worthy  of  the 
regard  of  men,  which  is  to  provide  sustenance 
for  the  soul;  for  the  body  perisheth.  Mary  hath 
chosen  more  wisely  than  thyself.  While  thou 
carest  much  for  the  wants  of  the  body,  she  careth 
for  those  of  the  spirit,  and  thus  has  that  good 
part  which  shall  not  be  taken  away  from  her. 
Think  not,  beloved  Martha,  of  sumptuous  living 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  303 

for  me,  who  have  no  earthly  goods,  not  even 
where  to  lay  my  head!" 

"Say  not  thus,  oh,  say  not  so,  dear  Lord," 
cried  Martha,  suddenly  bursting  into  tears  at 
Jesus'  touching  words,  and  casting  herself  im- 
pulsively at  his  feet;  "this  house  is  thy  home — 
ever  beneath  its  roof,  while  I  have  one  above  me, 
shalt  thou  have  where  to  lay  thy  head!  Say  not 
so,  my  Lord!" 

We  were  all  moved  at  Martha's  pathetic  ear- 
nestness. Jesus  raised  her  up,  and  said  to  her, 
gently: 

"It  is  thy  love  for  me,  I  well  know,  that 
maketh  thee  so  careful  and  troubled  to  provide 
for  me  at  thy  bountiful  table.  But  I  have  meat 
to  eat  that  ye  know  not  of.  Thus,  to  teach  the 
truths  of  God,  as  thou  findest  me  doing  to  these, 
is  to  me  meat  and  drink,  for  herein  I  am  doing 
my  Father's  will,  who  sent  me." 

I  have  been  particular  in  giving  you,  dear 
father,  these  details  of  the  domestic  relations  ex- 
isting in  the  abode  of  Lazarus,  and  the  sweet 
friendship  that  resided  in  their  bosoms  towards 
Jesus,  and  his  familiar,  brotherly  love  for  them. 
You  can  now  understand  why,  when  Lazarus 
was  taken  ill,  after  his  laborious  vigils  to  copy 
the  manuscript  for  the  Roman  Centurion,  a  mes- 
sage was  at  once  sent  to  Jesus,  who  was  in  Beth- 
abara  beyond  Jordan;  for  a  physician  of  Jerusa- 
lem, whom  the  noble  Caiaphas  had  sent  out  to 
Bethany,  on.  hearing  of  the  sudden  sickness  of 
the  youthful  Secretary,  to  whom  he  was  greatly 
attached,  for  all  people  did  love  him  who  knew 


804          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

him — this  physician  had  at  once  pronounced  him 
in  danger  of  sudden  death  from  inward  bleeding 
of  the  lungs. 

"Why,  then,"  you  may  ask  dear  father, 
"should  they  send  for  Jesus,  when  death  was 
certain.  Jesus,"  you  add,  "was  no  physician,  or 
if  he  had  been,  he  could  not  reverse  the  fate  of 
the  dying  young  man!" 

.  The  fact,  dear  father,  that  under  these  circum- 
stances they  did  send  to  Jesus  to  come  and  heal 
him,  shows  that  it  was  not  as  a  human  physician 
they  desired  his  presence,  but  as  the  miracle- 
working  Prophet  of  God!  It  proves,  and  will,  I 
trust,  prove  to  you,  dearest  father,  that  they 
who  should  best  know  his  power,  believe  as- 
suredly that  he  could  save  their  brother.  It  is 
testimony  irresistible  towards  sustaining  his 
claim  to  have  come  down  from  God!  It  is  those 
who  are  most  intimate  with  others  who  do  know 
them  best.  Now,  that  the  sisters  of  Lazarus 
sent  a  message  presently  to  Jesus  to  interpoee 
between  death  and  his  life,  shows  that  they 
plainly  believed  he  had  not  only  the  power  of 
miracles,  but  had  power  over  death;  and  that 
they  had  witnessed  instances  of  his  power  suffi- 
cient to  give  them  faith  in  his  ability  to  save  their 
brother;  while  they  knew  that  his  love  for  him 
would  certainly  prompt  him  to  exert  it. 

In  my  last  letter  I  closed  with  informing  you 
of  the  departure  of  the  messenger.  After  he  had 
gone  out  of  sight  from  the  door,  and  the  last 
echo  of  his  horse's  hoofs  ceased  to  be  heard  by 
the  long-listening  ears  of  his  sister  Martha,  I  re- 


THE  PKINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  305 ; 

entered  the  room  where  Lazarus  lay.  He  was  as 
white  as  marble.  His  large,  black  eyes  seemed 
to  be  twice  their  usual  size  and  brilliancy.  He 
breathed  with  difficulty,  and  every  few  moments 
he  would  be  compelled  to  have  his  head  raised, 
in  order  to  free  his  mouth  from  the  welling  blood 
that  was  constantly  bubbling  up  from  the  broken 
fountains  of  his  life.  Mary's  tender  privilege  it 
was  to  render  him  this  service  of  love.  As  she 
bent  over  him.  looking  downward  with  anxious 
fondness  into  his  pale,  intellectual  face,  watching 
every  shadow  of  the  change  that  the  sable  wing 
of  advancing  death  cast  over  it,  I  thought  I  had 
never  gazed  on  a  more  lovely  being!  Who,  in 
beholding  the  seraphic  beauty  of  her  face,  the 
brilliant  light  of  her  dark  eyes,  which  were  now 
glittering  with  sisterly  grief,  the  graceful  expres- 
sion of  her  proud,  Rebecca-like  head,  and  the 
superb  outline  of  her  figure,  where  love  and 
majesty  seemed  blent  to  mould  a  second  Eve — 
who,  in  the  admiration  of  her  person,  could  read 
within  and  beneath  all  the  secret  sorrow  of  her 
soul!  Who  would  believe  that  a  dark  cloud 
rested  on  her  spirit,  and  that  her  happiness  was 
no  longer  on  earth!  As  I  gazed  upon  her,  I 
forgot,  for  the  moment,  the  dying  young  man, 
about  whose  form  her  snow-white  arms  were  en- 
Iwined,  his  head  reclining  upon  her  bosom,  her 
raven  tresses  bronzed  with  a  golden  light,  all 
unbound  and  floating  above  him,  and  far  over 
his  pillow,  like  a  rich  veil  interwoven  of  sable 
silken  gloss  and  threads  of  gold.  I  could  not 
gaze  upon  that  abundant  hair  without  recalling 


306          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OP   DAVID. 
4fe 

the  day  not  long  before,  when,  at  the  dwelling  of 
Rabbi  Joseph  Solomon,  she  drew  near  suddenly 
to  Jesus,  who  was  his  guest,  and  bathed  his  feet 
•with  her  fast  flowing  tears,  mingling  therewith 
her  kisses,  and  then  dried  them  with  her  shining 
hair! 

And  wherefore  did  she  weep  upon  the  feet  of 
Jesus?  you  may  ask,  dear  father.  They  were 
tears  of  gratitude  and  penitence.  Her  history 
you  know,  at  least  as  rumor  had  it  three  years 
ago,  with  evil  additions  thereto.  It  is  true,  Mary 
sinned,  and  should  not  be  exculpated;  but  her 
sin  was  in  leaving  her 'maternal  roof,  yielding,  in 
her  unsuspecting  innocence,  to  the  dazzling 
temptations  of  the  young  prince  Herod.  It  is 
not  true  that  she  was  tempted  by  ambition  and 
power.  She  has  poured  into  my  ear  all  her  sad 
and  touching  story.  Prince  Herod  had  but  re- 
cently returned  with  his  father  Antipas,  from 
Rome,  and  was  a  youth  comely  in  person,  well 
skilled  in  the  fascinations  that  easiest  win  the 
hearts  of  the  guileless.  By  accident  he  saw  Mary 
one  morning  at  the  palace  of  Pilate  the  Procura- 
tor, whither  she  had  gone  to  deliver  the  wife  of 
the  Governor  a  piece  of  embroidery-work  which 
she  had  done  at  her  command.  It  would  seem, 
that  having  made  inquiries  touching  her  condi- 
tion in  life,  he  feigned  to  be  a  writer  of  parch- 
ments, and  thus  readily  making  the  acquaintance 
of  the  unsuspecting  Lazarus,  was  readily  intro- 
duced beneath  his  roof.  Here,  as  an  humble 
scribe,  dressed  in  plain  and  coarse  apparel,  he 
often  came,  and  succeeded  in  winning  the  heart 


THE    PRIXCE    Of    THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVjTD.  807 

of  the  lovely  girl.  At  length,  in  an  evil  hour,  she 
listened  to  his  temptation  secretly  to  elope  with 
him,  to  be  united  to  him  at  his  mother's  house, 
he  having  urged  to  her  that  his  open  marriage 
would  estrange  from  him  the  regards  of  his 
uncle,  a  wealthy  scribe,  who  desired,  if  he  mar- 
ried not  for  seven  years,  to  enrich  him  with  his 
wealth. 

To  this  tale  she  listened.  But  instead  of  being 
taken  by  him  to  the  roof  of  the  mother,  of  whom 
he  had  falsely  spoken  to  her,  she  found  herself 
seized,  and  her  mouth  stopped  by  the  leader  of  a 
party  of  horsemen,  who  suddenly  came  up  the 
path,  and  who,  dismounting,  placed  her  on  be- 
fore him.  The  young  scribe,  mounting  a  led 
horse,  headed  the  band,  and  the  whole  escort 
galloped  northward  at  rapid  speed.  Ignorant  in 
whose  power  she  was,  and  fearing  for  her  be- 
trothed husband  as  well  as  for  herself,  supposing 
that  he  was  forcibly  in  their  hands  also,  she  tried 
by  listening  to  ascertain  what  was  to  be  done 
with  her,  and  who  her  captors  were.  To  her 
surprise  she  heard  the  voice  of  her  lover  giving 
directions  to  the  horsemen  from  time  to  time, 
which  she  could  hardly  believe;  but  when  the 
moon  rose,  she  succeeded  so  far  in  removing  her 
veil  as  to  enable  her  to  recognize  him  as  the 
leader  of  the  troop. 

After  riding  all  night,  they  stopped  at  a  well, 
near  Samaria,  at  dawn  of  day.  Here  refresh- 
ments were  offered  her,  but  she  refused  them, 
and  begged  to  be  permitted  to  speak  to  her  lover. 
But  he  did  not  come  near  her.  After  an  hour's 


808          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 


rest  in  the  caravansera,  they  once  more  pro- 
ceeded on  their  route  in  a  northerly  course. 
Leaving  Mount  Gerizim  in  the  rear,  with  the 
Jordan  on  their  right,  they  at  noon  reached  the 
ba^e  of  Mount  Tabor.  After  three  hours'  re- 
pose, they  crossed  the  eastern  shoulder  of  the 
mountain,  from  which  was  a  magnificent  view  of 
the  sea  of  Galilee.  Descending  the  mountain, 
they  reached,  just  as  the  sun  set,  the  gate  of  a 
castle  that  overlooks  the  town  of  Nazareth. 
This  they  entered,  and  the  portals  closed  upon 
her. 

But  I  will  not  be  weary  with  too  minute  a  nar- 
rative, dear  father;  my  object  is  only  to  vindicate 
my  cousin  Mary  from  intentional  guilt.  Ushered 
into  superb  apartments,  her  lover,  attired  in  all 
the  splendor  of  a  prince,  soon  appeared  before 
her,  and  acknowledged  he  had  been  deceiving 
her;  that  he  was  Herod  Valerius,  the  son  of  the 
Herod  Antipas,  Tetrarch  of  Galilee,  and  that  she 
was  now  in  one  of  the  palaces  of  his  family. 
Who  can  describe  the  horror,  shame,  and  grief  of 
this  cruelly  deceived  and  erring  girl!  Bitterly 
did  her  tears  flow  at  the  too  trusting  step  she  had 
taken,  thus  sinning  against  God.  But  tears  and 
repentance,  implorations  and  entreaties  for  per- 
mission to  return  to  her  humble  home,  were  in 
vain.  As  she  had  sown,  she  had  reaped. 

At  the  expiration  of  three  months,  she  suc- 
seeded  in  making  her  escape,  and  flr.d  to  the  feet 
of  Mary  of  Nazareth,  the  mother  ot  the  Prophet 
Jesus.  To  her  she  made  known  all,  and  received 


,THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  809 

v~ 

he*  sympathy  while  she  bowed  her  penitent  head 
Deneath  her  reproofs.  Here  it  was  that  she  first 
beheld  the  holy  Prophet,  and  received  from  him 
the  consolations  of  the  forgiveness  of  heaven  for 
her  sin.  Led  by  his  noble  mother,  she  bent  her 
steps  back  again  to  her  father's  house.  All 
Bethany  knew  of  her  shame — that  is,  knew  that 
she  had  fled  with  the  dissolute  prince  .Valerius, 
and  was  living  with  him  in  sin  at  his  castle  in 
Galilee;  but  they  knew  not  any  extenuating  cir- 
cumstances. So  she  entered  Bethany  closely 
veiled  and  with  hurried  step  sought  the  shelfeer  of 
her  mother's  arms,  if,  peradventure,  they  would 
be  open  to  receive  her. 

At  length,  after  many  weeks,  all  who  knew  her 
were  acquainted  with  the  truth,  and  their  cold 
censure  was  softened  into  pity;  and  as  she  went 
about  doing  good,  as  she  visited,  like  an  angel, 
the  sick  and  sorrowing,  she  won  back  all  hearts, 
and  was  loved  and  honored  as  before.  But  the 
cold  world  still  looked  upon  her  as  a  guilty  one 
—  as  a  sinner;  but  had  they  known  how  deep  her 
sorrow  was  for  all  the  past,  they  would  also  have 
removed  the  barbs  from  the  sharp  arrows  of  their 
tongues. 

Since  then,  all  the  generous  care  of  Lazarus 
and  Martha,  and  of  their  friends,  has  been  to 
make  her  forget  the  past:  and  as  it  is  three  years 
since  what  I  have  described  happened,  the  pre- 
vailing gentle  sadness  that  now  shades  her  coun- 
tenance, alone  shows  to  the  loving  gaze  of  those 
around  her  what  she  has  suffered.  It  was  Jesus 


810          THE   PRINCE   OP   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

who  reconciled  her  to  her  brother  and  sister,  and 
hence  her  deep  gratitude  to  him,  which  she  has 
shown,  not  once,  but  many  times,  when  he  has 
jbeen  their  guest,  by  bathing  his  feet  with  her 
tears,  and  wiping  them  with  the  hairs  of  her 
ttiead.  Her  place  is  ever  at  his  feet.  Lovely  and 
guilty  one,  her  tears  are  her  daily  offering  to 
heaven,  and  will  atone  for  deeper  guilt  than  hers, 
if  tears  do  wash  away  sins ;  but  she  says  nothing 
has  given  consolation  to  her  heart  like  the  voice 
of  Jesus,  when  he  said  to  her,  "Daughter,  thy 
sins  be  forgiven  thee!"  "The  words,"  she  added 
to  me,  "penetrated  my  heart,  and  illuminated  the 
darkness  of  my  soul  with  ineffable,  unspeakable 
peace!" 

I  commenced  this  letter  by  informing  you  of 
the  departure  of  the  good  and  generous,  and 
pious  Lazarus.  He  fell  asleep  in  death  as  an  in- 
fant sinks  to  slumber  in  its  mother's  arms,  grad- 
ually sinking  from  the  joss  of  blood,  growing 
fainter  and  fainter  till  his  eyes  closed,  his  pulse 
ceased  to  throb,  and  his  noble  heart  to  flutter, 
1'ke  an  escaping  bird  beneath  the  hand's  light 
pressure. 

All  too  late  was  Jesus  sent  for!  He  is  dead! 
To-morrow  his  burial  will  take  place.  Alas! 
how  suddenly  has  perished  the  noblest  young 
man  in  Jndea! 

Farewell,  dear  father!  My  heart  is  full;  I  can 
write  no  more.  The  day  after  to-morrow  I  re- 
turn to  Jerusalem,  when  I  will  write  you  again. 
You  said  in  your  last  letter  you  would  soon  leave 


THE   PRINCE   OP  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  811 

Egypt  for  Judea,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  me 
back  to  my  dear  native  valley  of  the  Nile.  The 
God  of  Abraham  preserve  you  in  your  journey, 
and  bring  you  in  safety  to  the  embraces  of 

Your  loving  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER    XXVI. 

My  Dear  Father: — In  my  last  letter  I  told  you 
that  Lazarus  was  dead!  I  write  this  to  say  that 
he  that  was  dead  is  alive!  Lazarus  lives!  He 
whom  I  saw  dead  and  buried,  and  sealed  up 
within  the  rocky  cave  of  the  tomb,  he  is  alive 
again  from  the  dead;  and  at  this  moment,  while 
I  am  penning  this  extraordinary  account,  I  hear 
his  voice  upon  the  porch,  as  he  is  engaged  in  re- 
lating what  has  transpired  respecting  himself  to  a 
crowd  of  wondering^  people  from  Jerusalem. 
Even  Pilate,  the  Roman  Procurator,  stopped  his 
chariot  at  the  door  this  morning,  to  see  Lazarus, 
and  have  speech  of  him. 

How,  my  dear  father,  how  shall  I  find  ade- 
quate language  to  tell  you  all  that  has  happened 
within  the  last  twenty-four  hours!  How  shall  I 
make  you  fully  believe  the  marvellous  recital 
which  I  have  taken  up  my  pen  to  make!  I  know 
not  how  to  begin  the  wonderful  narrative,  for  the 
joy  that  prevents  me  from  arranging  my 


1-HE  PRINCE  OP  THE   HOUSE   OP  DAVID.          313 

thoughts  and  presenting  the  facts  intelligently  to 
you.  God  has  indeed  remembered  his  chosen 
people  Israel  once  more,  and  shown  his  power 
among  us! 

You  have  already  been  informed  by  me  how 
rapidly  Lazarus  failed  after  his  sudden  attack  of 
hemorrhage  of  the  chest,  and  that  he  soon  died ; 
and  that,  in  hopes  that  he  might  avert  death, 
Jesus  was  sent  for  at  the  first  to  come  to  him. 
But  Bethabara  was  a  day's  journey,  and  ere  the 
messenger  reached  him  the  soul  of  his  friend  had 
fled.  The  next  day  he  was  buried;  a  very  large 
concourse  of  people  from  the  town  of  Bethany, 
and  from  Jerusalem,  coming  to  his  burial ;  for  he 
was  greatly  beloved;  even  the  chariot  of  the 
noble  lady,  Lucia  Metella,  the  good  and  virtuous 
wife  of  Pilate,  was  present  to  do  honor  to  the 
obsequies  of  him  who  had  no  other  renown  than 
his  virtues. 

The  funeral  procession  was  so  very  long,  that 
strangers  pausing,  asked  what  great  master  in 
Israel,  or  person  of  note,  was  being  taken  to  the 
sepulchre. 

Some  answered,  "Lazarus,  the  industrious 
scribe!"  Others  said,  "a  young  man  who  has 
devoted  his  life  to  honor  his  mother!"  Others 
answered,  as  Lazarus  himself,  were  he  alive 
would  have  had  them : 

"It  is  Lazarus,  the  friend  of  Jesus!" 

This  living,  was  his  proudest  title;  and  dead, 
lie  would  have  desired  no  other.  Ah,  dear 
father,  may  the  day  yet  come  when  you  shall 
•deem  such  a  title  greater  honor  than  the  gold  oi 


314          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

Egypt,  or  all  the  glory  of  your  proud  descent 
from  Abraham  and  David! 

The  place  where  they  were  to  lay  him  was  the 
cave  in  which  both  his  father  and  mother  were 
entombed.  It  was  in  a  deep,  shady  vale,  that 
opened  into  the  valley  of  the  Kedron.  It  was 
thickly  shaded  by  cypress,  palm,  and  pomegran- 
ate trees;  and  a  large  tamarind  grew,  with  its 
stately  branches,  overclasping  the  summit  of  the 
secluded  place  of  sepulchre,  while  an  abrupt  cliff 
of  Olivet  hung  impending  down,  like  the  shaggy 
brow  of  a  giant  looking  down  upon  the  spot. 
.Above  the  tree-tops,  in  the  direction  of  Kedron, 
were  visible  the  majestic  heights  of  the  distant 
Temple,  and  the  warlike  battlements  of  the  city 
of  David,  while  the  sunlight,  glancing  upon  the 
dazzling  shield  of  a  sentinel  who  was  standing 
upon  its  loftiest  watch-tower,  caused  it  to  gleam 
like  a  lesser  sun.  The  remote  swell  of  a  Roman 
bugle  from  the  head  of  a  cohort,  which  was  just 
issuing  from  the  gate  of  Damascus,  came  softly 
and  musically  to  our  ears,  as  we  stood  in  silence 
about  the  grove  wherein  we  were  to  place  the 
dead,  ^milius,  the  Centurion,  was  also  pres- 
ent, wearing  a  white  scarf  above  his  silver  cuir- 
ass, in  token  of  grief;  for  he  also  loved  Lazarus. 
Of  him,  dear  father,  I  have  not  of  late  spoken; 
for  should  I  begin  to  write  of  him,  I  should  have 
no  room  in  my  letters  for  any  other  theme. 
You  will  soon  see  him,  and  judge  for  yourself 
how  worthy  he  is  of  your  confidence,  and  all  the 
love  of  my  heart.  I  am  too  grateful  to  you, 
dearest  father,  for  not  refusing  your  consent  to 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  315 

our  union,  but  only  withhold  it  until  you  reach 
Jerusalem.  The  blessed  winds  waft  your  bark 
swiftly  to  Jaffa,  that  I  may  soon  embrace  you, 
and  present  to  you  the  noble  yEmilius,  who  is  as 
faithful  a  worshiper  of  our  God  as  if  he  were  a 
son  of  Abraham  by  birth  rather  than  by  adop- 
tion. 

The  sacred  observances  at  the  grove  being 
over,  they  raised  the  body  of  the  dead  young 
man  from  the  bier,  and  four  youths,  aided  by 
^milius  at  the  head  to  support  it,  -  jnveyed  it 
into  the  yawning  cavern.  A  moment  they 
lingered  on  the  threshold,  that  Mary  and  Martha 
might  take  one  more  look,  imprint  upon  its  icy 
cold  lips  one  last  kiss,  press  once  more  his  un- 
conscious head  to  their  loving  and  bursting 
hearts.  1  also  gazed  upon  him,  weeping  at  their 
sorrow,  and  sorrowing  to  behold  so  noble  a  face, 
beautiful  as  chiseled  alabaster,  about  to  be  con- 
signed to  the  loathsome  worm  of  the  charnel- 
house.  Pie  was  so  good,  and  excelling  all  his 
companions  in  all  things  great  and  pure,  and 
lofty  in  character;  my  tears  flowed,  and  I  felt 
that  had  I  not  loved  ^Emilius,  I  should  have 
loved  Lazarus. 

The  young  men  moved  forward  into  the  gloom 
«*f  the  cave.  Mary  rushed  in,  and  with 
Disheveled  hair,  cried: 

"Oh,  take  him  not  away  forever  from  the  sight 
of  my  eyes !  Oh.  my  brother,  my  brother,  would 
that  I  had  died  for  thee!  for  I  am  willing  to  lie 
down  ^  with  the  worm  and  call  it  my  sister,  and 
sleep  in  the  arms  of  death,  as  on  the  breast  of  my 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

mother!  Thou  wert  happy  and  honored,  anr 
should  have  lived!  I  am  wretched  and  heart- 
broken, and  such  only  should  die!  Oh,  brother, 
brother,  let  them  not  take  thee  orever  from  the 
sight  of  my  eyes!  Without  xhee,  how  shall  life 
be  life!" 

^milius  entered  the  tomb,  and  cenderly  rais- 
ing her  from  the  body,  on  which  ^he  had  cast 
herself  in  the  eloquent  abandonment  of  her  wild 
grief,  he  led  her  forth,  and  beckoning  to  me, 
placed  her  in  my  arms. 

Martha  bore  her  own  griefs  with  more  com- 
posure, but  her  face  expressed  how  deeply  she 
•was  moved  within,  thus  to  say  adieu  for  ever  to 
her  only  brother,  to  her  beloved  Lazarus,  who 
had  been  the  strong  rock  which  had  presented 
ever  ito  front  to  the  shock  of  the  stormy  billows 
of  this  life,  as  they  threatened  her  and  Mary,  and 
was  a  tower  of  strength  to  them  in  the  day  of 
trouble;  as  well  as  an  exhaustless  fountain  of 
holy  domestic  joy! 

The  body  being  placed  in  a  niche  hollowed 
out  in  the  rock,  was  decently  covered  with  a 
grave  mantle,  all  but  the  calm  face,  which  was 
bound  about  by  a  snow-white  napkin.  Maidens 
of  the  village  advanced  and  cast  flowers  upon 
his  head,  and  many,  many  were  the  sincere  tears, 
both  from  beneath  manly  lids  and  those  of  vir- 
gins, which  bore  tribute  to  his  worth. 

The  burial  ceremonies  being  ended,  five 
strong  men  replaced  the  ponderous  stone  door 
•closely  fitting  the  entrance  to  the  cave,  and  so- 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID.       317 

secured  it  by  letting  it  into  a  socket  that  it  would 
require  a  like  number  to  remove  it. 

As  we  were  retiring  with  heavy  hearts  from 
performing  this  last  duty  to  the  beloved  dead,  the 
sun  sank  beyond  the  blue  hills  of  Ajalon  in  the 
west,  in  a  lake  of  gold,  gilding  the  pinnacle  of* 
the  Temple,  and  making  it  appear  like  a  gigantic 
spear  elevated  into  the  sky.  From  the  Levites 
at  evening  sacrifice  came  mellowed  by  ;he  dis- 
tance the  deep  chant  of  the  Temple  service, 
uttered  by  two  thousand  voices.  The  cloud 
from  the  altar  sacrifice  ascended  slowly  into  the 
still  air,  and  catching  .he  splendor  of  the  sun's 
last  beams,  shone  like  the  pillar  of  cloud  and  of 
fire  which  stood  above  the  tabernacle  in  the 
wilderness.  The  laborers  in  the  harvest  were 
hastening  towards  the  gates,  ere  they  should  be 
shut  for  the  night  by  the  Roman  guards;  and 
Dwellers  in  the  village  were  hurrying  forth,  lest 
they  should  by  chance  be  held  in  the  city  over 
night. 

There  was  a  sacred  hush  in  the  sleepy  atmos- 
phere that  seemed  in  sympathy  and  touching 
harmony  with  the  scene  in  which  we  had  just 
borne  a  part.  With  Mary  leaning  sobbing  upon 
my  shoulder,  I  sat  upon  a  rock  near  the  tomb, 
giving  my  heart  up  to  the  sweet  influence  of  the 
hour.  We  were  alone,  save  ^milius,  who  sat 
upon  his  horse  near  by,  and  seemed  to  be  gazing- 
upon  the  beauty  of  the  evening  scene.  Martha 
and  my  cousin,  with  John,  had  returned  to  the 
now  desolate  home  of  which  Lazarus  had  been 
the  light  and  the  honor. 


318          THE  PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID* 

"I  am  calmer  now,"  said  Mary,  after  a  while 
raising  her  head,  and  looking  into  my  face,  her 
splendid  eyes  glittering  brimfull  with  tears:  *'I 
am  better  now!  The  peace  of  the  sweet  holy 
skies  seems  to  have  descended,  and  entered  my 
heart.  The  heavens  of  my  soul  are  as  clear  and 
pure,  and  peaceful,  as  those  above  me!  The 
spirit  of  Lazarus  pervades  all,  and  hallows  all  I 
see!  I  will  weep  no  more.  He  is  happy,  very 
happy,  and  I  will  try  to  be  holy  and  go  to  him, 
for  he  cannot  come  to  me!" 

At  this  moment  we  heard  the  tramp  of  horses' 
hoofs,  and  ^milius,  startled  thereby  from  his 
reverie,  recovered  his  seat  and  laid  his  hand  upon 
his  sword;  for  though  the  Romans  have  the 
mastery  in  our  land,  as  conquerors,  they  are  not 
loved;  and  scarcely  a  week  passes  without  some 
conflict  between  the  soldiers  of  the  Legion  and 
the  common  people  among  the  Jews;  and  even 
the  officers  have  been  attacked  when  riding 
abroad  from  Jerusalem  not  sufficiently  attended. 

vEmilius,  therefore,  who  had  with  him  only  his 
white-haired  Celtic  servant,.  Frwynn,  prepared  to 
receive  a  foe  or  welcome  his  friends.  The  next 
moment,  around  a  rock  projecting  from  the 
shoulder  of  Olivet,  appeared  first,  one  horseman 
in  the  wild,  warlike  costume  of  an  Ishmaelite  of 
the  desert,  brandishing  a  long  spear  in  the  air; 
then  another  and  another  similarly  clad  and 
armed,  and  mounted  on  superb  horses  of  the 
desert;  then  dashed  in  sight  alone,  a  tall,  daring- 
looking  young  man,  in  a  rich  costume,  half 
Grecian,  half  Arabic,  though  his  dark,  handsome 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.     31? 

features  were  decidedly  Israelitish.  He  rode  a 
superb  Abyssinian  charger,  and  sat  upon  his- 
back  like  the  heathen  centaur  I  have  read  of  in 
Latin  books,  which  ^milius  has  given  me  to 
read.  Upon  seeing  me,  he  drew  rein  and  smiled, 
and  waved  his  jeweled  hand  with  splendid  cour- 
tesy; but  at  the  sight  of  ^Emilius,  his  dark  eyes 
flashed,  and  leaping  to  his  feet  in  his  stirrups,  he 
shook  his  glittering  falchion  towards  him,  and 
rode  with  a  trumpet-like  cry  full  upon  him. 

The  brave  Roman  soldier  received  the  charge 
by  turning  his  horse  slightly,  and  catching  the 
point  of  the  weapon  upon  the  blade  of  his  short 
sword. 

"We  meet  at  last,  oh  Roman!"  cried  this  wild, 
dashing  chief,  as  he  wheeled  his  horse  like  light- 
ning, and  once  more  rode  upon  the  iron-armed 
Roman  knight. 

"Ay,  Barabbas,  and  with  joy  I  hail  thee,"-  re- 
sponded ^Emilius,  placing  a  bugle  to  his  lips. 

At  hearing  the  clear  voice  of  the  bugle  awak- 
ing the  echoes  of  Olivet,  the  dread  robber  chief, 
of  whom  you  have  heard  me  speak  before,  dear 
father,  said  haughtily,  and  with  a  glance  of  con- 
tempt : 

"Thou,  a  knight  of  the  tribune,  and  com- 
mander of  a  legion,  call  for  aid,  when  I  offer  thee 
equal  battle,  hand  to  hand,  and  ask  not  my  own 
men's  swords." 

"I  know  no  equal  battle  with  a  robber.  I 
would  hunt  thee  as  I  would  do  the  wolf  and  the 
wild  beasts  of  thy  desert,"  answered  ^Emilius, 
pressing  him  closely.  At  a  signal  from  the 


320          THE  PRIXCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

her  chief,  his  four  men,  who  had  reigned  up  a 
short  distance  off,  near  the  tomb  of  Lazarus,  sent 
up  a  shrill,  eagle-like  scream,  that  made  my 
blood  stand  still,  and  rode  down  like  the  wind  to 
overcome  /Emilius. 

Hitherto  I  had  remained  like  one  stupefied  at 
being  an  involuntary  spectator  of  a  sudden  bat- 
tle; but  on  seeing  his  danger,  I  was  at  his  side, 
scarce  knowing  how  I  reached  the  place. 

''Retire,  dear  Adina,"  he  said,  "I  shall  have  to 
defend  both  thee  and  myself,  and  these  barbar- 
ians will  give  my  both  hands  enough  to  do." 
As  he  spoke,  he  turned  his  horse's  head  to  meet 
the  four-fold  shock,  and  I  escaped,  I  know  not 
how,  with  the  impulse  to  hasten  to  Bethany  for 
succor.  But  heaven  interposed  its  aid — a  de- 
tachment of  the  body  guard  of  Pilate,  which 
yEmilius  had  left  in  an  olive  grove  to  bivouac 
and  refresh  themselves  and  horses,  hearing  the 
recalf  of  their  chief's  bugle,  came  now  threading 
up  the  hill,  a  score  strong  of  armed  men,  bearded 
Gauls,  who  had  served  in  Britain  against  the 
Picts.  At  the  sight,  Barabbas  and  his  party  fled, 
like  wild  pigeons  pursued  by  a  cloud  of  Iturean 
hawks.  Barabbas,  however,  turned  more  thj.  1 
once,  to  fling  back  defiance  to  his  foes.  JEmilius 
by  this  means  came  up  with  him,  seized  the  crim- 
son sash  which  encircled  his  waist,  and  held  him 
thus,  both  fighting  as  they  rode.  The  troops 
soon  came  up  with  them,  and  after  a  desperate 
tattle  the  celebrated  robber  chief  was  taken 
alive,  though  bleeding  with  many  wounds,  and 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  321 

bound  with  his  own  sash  to  the  column  of  one  of 
the  tombs.  ^Emilius  was  but  slightly  hurt;  and 
I  never  saw  such  bright  joy  as  sparkled  in  his 
eyes,  that  he  had  at  length  captured  the  bold 
bandit  leader,  who  had  so  frequently  before  es- 
caped him,  and  to  get  possession  of  whom  he  had 
made  so  many  attempts.  There  lay  at  length  in 
his  power  the  terror  of  all  the  country  between 
Jericho  and  Jerusalem,  a  bound  captive.  He 
smiled  still  proudly  defiant,  and  looked  haughty 
and  wildly  noble,  even  in  his  bonds.  His  men 
were  also  taken;  and  giving  them,  with  their 
chief,  into  the  charge  of  his  soldiers,  to  convey  to 
the  prisons  of  Jerusalem,  ^milius  rejoined  Mary 
and  I,  and  accompanied  us  to  the  house  of  the 
two  sisters. 

It  appears  that  Barabbas,  emboldened  by  the 
rumor  that  a  rich  company  of  merchants  were  to 
leave  Jerusalem  at  day-break,  for  Damascus,  had 
advanced  near  the  city  with  a  few  followers,  to 
lie  in  wait  for  their  coming  out,  and  hang  on 
their  path  until  they  should  have  entered  a  defile 
in  the  mountains  of  Bethel,  where  his  troop  were 
lying  in  ambush;  and  it  was  while  seeking  a 
shelter  from  notice  among  the  tombs  in  the  vale 
of  Olivet  that  he  came  suddenly  upon  us,  y£mil- 
ius  says  that  he  will  assuredly  be  crucified  for 
his  numerous  crimes.  Dreadful  punishment! 
and  for  one  so  young  and  prepossessing  as  this 
desert  robber  to  come  to  such  an  ignominious 
and  agonizing  death;  to  hang  for  hours  under 
the  sun-beams  by  lacerated  hands  and  feet,  till 


822     THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

death  comes  from  slow  exhaustion  of  all  the 
powers  of  nature.  I  am  amazed  that  so  polite 
and  humane  a  nation  as  the  Roman  can  inflict 
such  a  cruel  and  agonizing  death,  even  upon 
their  malefactors.  Last  week,  as  I  was  walking 
with  my  Uncle  Amos  among  the  sepulchres  of 
the  kings  outside  of  the  north  gate,  being  pre- 
vented from  re-entering  the  gate  by  the  passage 
of  a  Roman  Legion  to  suppress  an  insurrection 
in  Samaria,  we  passed  round  by  the  western 
gate,  to  reach  which  we  had  to  pass  the  foot  of 
the  Hill  of  Calvary,  upon  which  two  srosses  were 
erected,  on  one  of  which  hung  the  still  living 
body  of  a  seditious  Jew,  executed  by  order  of  the 
Procurator.  He  writhed  fearfully,  while  his 
groans  penetrated  my  heart.  I  covered  my  eyes 
and  my  ears,  and  begged  Rabbi  Amos  to  hurry 
with  me  from  such  a  fearful  spectacle.  Yet  it 
was  in  full  sight  of  the  city,  of  the  road;  and 
many  spectators,  both  of  women  and  men,  lin- 
gered to  gaze.  Ignominious,  indeed,  must  the 
life  of  a  man  have  been,  for  him  to  be  justly 
doomed  to  suffer  such  a  death. 

In  this  letter,  dearest  father,  I  intended  to  re- 
late to  you  how  Lazarus  has  been  restored  to 
life,  but  it  is  already  taken  up  with  so  much,  that 
I  defer  it  to  my  next.  But,  believe  me,  that 
Lazarus  is  living  and  well,  and  thousands  are 
crowding  into  Bethany,  and  thronging  the 
house,  to  see  this  great  thing  that  hath  happened. 
Suffice  for  me  to  tell  you,  at  the  close  of  this  let- 
ter, that  it  was  Jesus  who  raised  him  from  the 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  323 

dead,  the  Prophet  of  God  of  whom  you  are  yet 
in  doubt  whether  he  be  the  Messias  or  no!  Ah, 
is  he  who  raised  the  widow's  son  of  Nain — who 
walked  on  the  sea  a  league  to  his  disciples'  boats 
— who  stilled  the  tempest  by  the  word  of  his 
power — who  fed  five  thousand  men  with  five 
pounds  weight  of  bread — who  healed  the  noble- 
man Hadad's  son — who  raised  the  dead  daughter 
of  the  Galilean  ruler,  Jarius — who  restores  the 
deaf,  the  blind,  the  dumb,  by  a  word,  a  touch,  a 
look — around  whose  path  and  life  are  gathered 
together  such  a  multitude  of  testimonies  to  his 
superhuman  power,  in  prophecies,  in  mighty 
works,  and  in  glittering  miracles — ah,  my  dear 
father,  is  he  only  a  common  man;  is  he  an  im- 
poster?  Oh,  is  he  not,  is  he  not  the  Son  of  God 
— the  Messias  of  the  Prophets — the  Lion  of  the 
tribe  of  Judah — the  Deliverer  and  future  glory 
of  Israel?  Is  he  not  He  whose  day  of  splendor 
Abraham  saw  afar  off,  and  was  glad?  Is  He  not 
Shiloh,  whom  the  patriarch  Jacob  beheld  rise  up 
to  wield  the  sceptre  of  Israel?  Is  He  not  the 
mighty  Son  of  God,  whom  the  burning  pen  of 
Esaias  records  in  these  words  of  inspiration: 

"Unto  us  a  child  is  born — unto  us  a  son  is 
given;  and  the  government  shall  be  upon  his 
shoulders :  and  his  name  shall  be  called  Wonder- 
ful, Counsellor,  the  Mighty  God,  the  Everlasting 
Father,  the  Prince  of  Peace;  who  shall  sit  upon 
the  throne  of  David,  and  establish  it  with  justice 
and  judgment  from  henceforth,  even  forever!" 

Think  of  these  things,   dear  father,   ponder 


— Ji    ikS  PKINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

them  well,  and  let  not  the  poverty  of  Jesus  b«  « 
stumbling-block  to  your  faith  in  Him  as  Messiaa. 
That  he  has  raised  Lazarus  from  the  dead,  is 
alone  proof  to  me  that  He  is  the  Son  of  God. 

Your  affectionate  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER    XXVII. 

Dear  Father: — Your  letter  has  filled  me 
with  joy  that  I  can  poorly  express  by  my  pen. 
It  was  received  this  morning  by  the  courier  from 
Egypt,  with  the  package,  both  being  safely 
placed  in  my  hands,  nine  days  only  after  they 
quitted  your  own.  I  kissed  them,  and  pressed 
them  again  and  again  to  my  heart,  at  the  thought 
that  they  were  so  lately  touched  by  your  fingers. 
The  letter  assures  me  that  you  are  certainly  to 
leave  at  the  new  moon,  and  after  a  few  day's  de- 
lay at  Gaza,  will  be  with  me  not  many  days  after- 
wards. This  letter  I  shall  send  so  as  to  meet 
you  at  Gaza. 

Three  years,  three  long  years,  dearest  father, 
have  passed  since  I  last  saw  your  venerable  and 
kind  face.  Ah,  when  you  come,  how  I  shall  love 
you.  and  hang  upon  you,  and  watch  every  look, 
and  catch  your  every  word!  It  is  true,  my  Uncle 
Amos  has  been  next  to  a  father  to  me,  all  affec* 


326  THE   PKIXCE    OF   THE   HOUSE    OF   DAVID. 

tion  and  goodness;  but  no  love  or  care  can  hold 
the  place  of  a  father's  to  a  daughter. 

When  I  review  the  interesting  scenes  I  have 
passed  through,  the  wonderful  events  which  I 
have  witnessed  since  I  first  came  to  Jerusalem, 
nearly  three  years  ago,  with  the  caravan  of  Rabbi 
Ben  Israel,  I  do  not  regret  my  long  absence  from 
you,  dear  father;  for  to  have  been  in  Jerusalem 
during  the  period  I  have  named,  is  a  privilege 
thatAbraham  and  all  the  patriarchs  and  prophets 
of  God  would  have  coveted.  During  that  period 
the  Messias  has  walked  the  earth,  clothed  with 
divine  power,  and  familiarly  gone  in  and  out  of 
Jerusalem  before  all  eyes,  performing  miracles, 
and  doing  mighty  works  which  never  man  did. 
I  have  learned  to  love  and  honor  that  blessed 
Prophet  as  the  Son  of  the  Highest,  and  the  An- 
ointed of  the  Lord;  I  have  sat  at  his  feet,  and 
listened  to  his  heavenly  teachings,  and  the  wis- 
dom of  his  sacred  lips  has  made  me  wise. 

But  I  have  not  yet  made  known  to  you  the 
particulars  of  the  greatest  miracle  of  power  and 
love  of  all  those  wonders  which  he  has  done,  viz., 
the  raising  up  of  Lazarus  from  the  dead,  and  I 
will  here  recount  them  as  they  occurred. 

When  Mary  and  Martha,  finding  Lazarus 
given  over  by  the  physicians  as  past  possible  re- 
covery from  his  grievous  illness,  had  dispatched 
the  message  to  Jesus,  as  I  have  already  stated, 
they  began  to  be  more  cheerful  with  new-born 
hope,  saying: 

"If  our  dear  Rabbi,  the  holy  Prophet,  comes, 


THE   PRINCB   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID  327 

he  will  heal  him  with  a  word,  as  he  has  done  so 
many  of  the  sick." 

"Yes;  many  whom  he  knew  not,  he  has  re- 
stored to  health  by  a  touch,"  remarked  Martha, 
"how  much  more,  Lazarus,  whom  he  loveth  as  a 
brother!  O  that  the  messenger  may  press  for- 
ward with  all  haste!" 

"If  Lazarus  should  die  ere  he  come,"  hesita- 
tingly remarked  my  gentle  cousin,  the  betrothed 
of  John  the  disciple,  "he  could  bring  him  to  life 
again,  even  as  he  did  the  son  of  the  widow  at 
Nain." 

"Yes,  without  doubt,  unless  it  were  too  late," 
remarked  Martha,  shrinking  at  the  thought  that 
her  brother  should  die;  "but,  if  he  be  long  dead 
it  will  be  impossible." 

"Nothing  is  impossible  with  Jesus,"  answered 
Mary,  her  eyes  brightening  with  trusting  faith. 

Thus  the  hours  passed  between  mingled  hopes 
and  fears;  and  ere  Jesus  came,  the  mantle  of 
death  was  laid  over  the  face  of  their  dead  brother. 
"Lazarus  is  dead,  and  Jesus  is  away!"  was  the 
bitter  and  touching  cry  made  by  the  bereaved 
sisters,  as  they  wept  in  each  other's  arms. 

The  next  day  the  burial  took  place,  as  I  have 
described  already  to  you,  dear  father,  in  my  last 
letter,  and  yet  no  messenger  came  from  Jesus. 
The  morning  of  the  third  day  the  messenger  re- 
turned, and  said  that  he  had  found  the  Prophet 
on  the  farther  bank  of  the  Jordan,  where  John 
had  baptized,  and  that  he  abode  in  an  humble 
cottage  in  the  suburbs  of  Bethabara,  with  his  dis- 
ciples, and  was  engaged  in  teaching  the  things  of 


328          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

the  kingdom  of  God,  and  unfolding  the  proph- 
ecies to  many  who  resorted  unto  him. 

The  bearer  of  the  sad  tidings  from  the  two  sis- 
ters delivered  his  simple  and  touching  message: 

"Lord,  behold  he  whom  thou  lovest  is  sick!" 

"And  what  said  he? — how  did  his  countenance 
appear?"  asked  Martha,  of  the  man. 

"He  betrayed  no  surprise,  but  said  calmly  to 
me,  'Son,  I  know  it!  This  sickness  shall  not  be 
unto  death.  It  shall  be  for  the  glory  of  God;  for 
hereby  will  my  Father  permit  me  to  be  glorified, 
that  men  may  see  and  believe  truly  that  I  came 
out  from  God.' " 

"What  said  he  more?"  asked  Martha,  sorrow- 
fully and  doubting. 

"Nothing  more,  lady;  and  having  given  my 
message,  I  departed,"  answered  the  man. 

"Alas!  he  knew  not  how  ill  his  friend  was," 
said  Mary,  "or  he  would  not  have  said  it  was  not 
unto  death,  and  would  have  hastened  with  you." 

"Thy  Lord  should  know  all  things,  daugher," 
said  a  priest  who  stood  by.  "This  ignorance  of 
the  danger  of  Lazarus,  and  his  assertion  that  he 
would  not  die,  shows  that  he  is  an  imposter.  Is 
not  Lazarus  dead  and  buried?" 

At  this,  Martha's  faith  seemed  for  a  moment 
shaken,  but  Mary  eloquently  defended  her  broth- 
er's absent  friend,  and  holy  Prophet,  saying, 
"That  when  Jesus  should  come  and  speak  in  per- 
son for  himself,  he  would  make  his  words  plain, 
and  show  them  to  have  been  spoken  with 
wisdom." 

With  what  deep  sorrow  they  mourned  theu- 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  32ft 

brother ;  and  their  tears  fell  the  faster  in  that  they 
felt  assured  he  would  not  have  died  had  Jesus 
been  there.  Their  faith  and  confidence  in  him 
underwent  a.  sore  trial  as  day  after  day  passed, 
and  nothing  more  was  heard  from  him. 

"He  has  forgotten  us,"  answered  Martha. 
"He  should  be  near  to  console  us  in  our  deep 
affliction,  though  he  came  not  to  heal  our 
brother." 

"Nay,  sister,  do  no  think  hardly  of  the  blessed 
friend  of  Lazarus,"  said  Mary,  with  soothing 
tones,  as  she  caressed  her  elder  sister.  "I  feel 
that  if  he  had  seen  fit  he  could  have  raised  up  our 
brother,  even  speaking  the  word  from  Bethabara. 
It  was  not  needful  he  should  see  him  to  heal  him; 
for  dost  thou  remember  how  he  healed  Lucius, 
the  Centurion's  son,  yet  at  the  time  he  was  a 
day's  journey  distant  from  him. 

"And  why,  oh  why,  did  he  not  save  Lazarus!" 
exclaimed  Martha,  bitterly. 

"In  that  he  did  not,  sweet  sister,"  answered 
Mary,  gently,  "it  was  for  the  best.  Did  he  not 
say  to  the  messenger,  his  sickness  should  be  to 
the  glory  of  his  power." 

"But  not  his  death,  Mary,  not  his  death!  He 
is  dead  four  days  already;  and  how  can  the  grave 
give  glory  to  the  power  of  Jesus?  Will  he  raise 
him  up,  since  corruption  has  begun,  nay,  began 
ere  we  laid  him  in  the  cold  sepulchre?  Oh, 
speak  not  to  me  of  the  cruel  prophet.  He  loved 
not  Lazarus,  or  he  had  not  the  power  to  save 
him.  Nay;  leave  me,  Mary,  to  the  bitterness  of 
my  grief."  


330          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

"Ah,  dear  Martha,  how  soon  is  thy  faith  in 
Jesus,  when  proven,  become  nought!"  said 
Mary,  bending  upon  her  from  her  dark,  earnest 
eyes,  looks  of  sad  reproach.  "Shall  one  day 
overturn  your  years  of  holy  friendship  for  him? 
Because  he  answered  not  our  prayer  to  come  to 
Lazarus,  think  you  he  loved  him  not,  and  is  in- 
different to  our  anguish?  He  is  wronged  by 
your  reproof,  and  injured  by  your  want  of  confi- 
dence in  his  love  and  care  for  us." 

"He  can  heal  a  proud  and  rich  ruler's  son,  but 
he  heeds  not  the  cry  of  the  poor  and  lowly,"  per- 
severingly  answered  Martha,  expressing  in  her 
looks  the  intensity  of  her  feelings  against  Jesus. 
"The  death  of  Lazarus  be  upon  his  head!" 

"Ah,  sister,  God  forgive  thee,  and  let  thy  grief 
excuse  thy  words.  Though  he  slay  me,  I  will 
trust  in  him,"  exclaimed  Mary,  laying  her  hand 
on  her  sister's  shoulder,  while  holy  firmness  and 
a  resolute  light  beamed  in  her  shining  and  tear- 
ful eyes. 

\Vhile  they  were  thus  discoursing,  one  came 
running  swiftly  towards  the  house,  and,  breath- 
less with  haste,  cried  to  them  and  to  the  Jews 
sitting  there,  who  had  come  to  comfort  them 
concerning  their  brother: 

"The  Prophet!  the  Nazarene!  He  comes!" 

Almost  at  the  same  moment,  Melee,  the  Gib- 
eonite,  entered  and  said: 

"Jesus,  the  Messias  of  God,  is  at  hand!  He 
already  entereth  the  village  with  his  disciples." 

At  this  intelligence,  the  mourners  who  sat  with 
Mary  and  Martha  in  the  vine  porch  rose  up  to 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE    HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  331 

go  and  meet  him;  but  Martha,  shrieking  with 
sudden  joy,  sprang  up,  and  more  quickly  than 
they  reached  the  street,  and,  running  with  great 
speed,  came  where  Jesus  was. 

Mary,  who  had  received  the  news  without  be- 
traying any  other  emotion  than  the  secret  and 
holy  joy  of  a  heart  that  had  confidence  all  along 
in  her  Lord,  instead  of  hastening  to  meet  him, 
rending  her  hair  with  grief,  like  her  sister,  pro- 
ceeded to  prepare  a  room  for  the  hospitable  en- 
tertainment of  the  beloved  Prophet,  when  he 
should  come  in,  thus  taking  Martha's  place;  and 
when  she  had  arranged  all,  she  sat  down  with  me 
in  the  house,  her  heart  filled  with  joy,  and  her 
face  expressive  of  her  calm  and  quiet  happiness. 

"I  knew  he  would  come!  I  knew  he  would 
not  leave  or  forsake  us  in  our  deep  sorrow, 
Adina,"  she  said,  two  or  three  times ;  and,  as  the 
confused  noise  of  advancing  footsteps  fell  upon 
our  ears,  her  heart  beat  quicker,  and,  with  the 
glow  that  joy  and  expectation  made  to  enrich 
her  face,  I  thought  she  looked  more  beautiful 
than  ever  before. 

When  Martha  came  near  Jesus,  whom  she  met 
just  entering  Bethany,  walking  with  four  of  his 
disciples  along  the  dusty  road,  and  looking 
weary  and  travel-worn,  she  ran  and  threw  her- 
self at  his  feet,  crying: 

"Lord,  if  thou  hadst  been  here,  my  brother 
had  not  died!" 

Jesus,  taking  her  hand,  raised  her  up,  and  said 
with  emotion,  for  he  was  deeply  moved : 


332          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OP  DAVID. 

"Lazarus  sleepeth,  Martha.  I  am  now  come 
to  awake  him  out  of  his  sleep." 

"Lord,  if  my  brother  slept  only,  he  would  not 
have  been  buried.  He  is  dead,  and  hath  been 
dead  four  days." 

"I  spoke  of  his  death,  Martha!  Lazarus  is 
dead ;  but  death  to  those  whom  my  Father  loveth 
is  sleep.  The  good  die  not,  only  the  wicked. 
Their  death  is  eternal,  where  the  worm  dieth  not. 
1  say  unto  thce,  Lazarus  is  not  dead  but  sleepeth ; 
and  he  shall  rise  again!" 

"I  know,  O  Rauboni,  that  he  shall  rise  again 
in  the  resurrection  at  the  last  day." 

Jesus  then  said  unto  her,  lifting  his  celestial 
glances  towards  heaven: 

"I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life.  He  that 
believeth  in  me,  though  he  were  dead,  shall  he 
live!  and'  whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in  me 
shall  never  die!  Believest  thou  this,  daughter?" 

"Yea,  Lord,  I  believe  that  thou  art  the  Christ, 
the  Son  of  God,  which  should  come  into  the 
world.  I  know  that  whatsoever  thou  wilt  ask 
of  God,  God  will  give  it  thee,  and  that  even  now 
thou  couldst  bring  Lazarus  back  again!" 

"Corruption  and  the  worm  have  begun  their 
work,"  said  a  proud  and  unbelieving  Pharisee 
near,  on  hearing  this ;  "whatever  may  have  been 
the  state  of  the  ruler's  daughter,  and  of  the  son. 
of  her  of  Nain,  Lazarus,  the  scribe,  at  least,  is 
dead!" 

To  this  speech  Jesus  made  no  reply,  but  turn- 
ing to  Martha,  said  softly: 

"I  am  rejoiced  that  thy  faith  in  me  hath  come 


THE  riuscK  or  THE  HOCSE  OP  DAVID. 


back  into  thine  heart,  for  thou  hast  doubted,  oh 
daughter  of  little  faith,  in  that  I  came  not  at  thy 
call.  It  was  needful  that  thy  brother  should  die, 
that  I  might  display  the  power  of  God  in  me  by 
raising  him  up.  This  day  my  Father  shall  be 
glorified,  and  the  world  shall  truly  know  that  I* 
come  from  Him  who  is  Life,  and  the  giver  of. 
life.  Go,  thou,  and  tell  thy  sister  that  I  am  here, 
and  would  have  her  come  and  speak  with  me!" 

Martha,  then,  overjoyed,  and  wondering  that 
Jesus  should  have  known  her  thoughts,  so  as  to 
reproach  her  for  her  little  faith  as  he  had  done, 
hastened  to  her  sister,  and  entering,  cried: 

"I  have  seen  the  Lord!  He  calleth  for  thee, 
Mary.  Come  and  see  him  as  he  sits  by  Isaiah's 
fountain,  near  the  market-place  ;  for  he  hath  said 
he  will  not  enter  our  house  until  he  crosses  the 
threshold  with  Lazarus  by  his  side!" 

Her  words  made  my  heart  bound  with  an  in- 
describable thrill!  Lazarus  to  come  again  into 
the  house  alive,  walking  with  Jesus!  I  buried 
my  face  in  my  hands,  overcome  with  an  idea  so 
full  of  joy,  terror,  wonder,  and  supernatural  awe. 
Mary  lose  quickly,  and  went  out,  scarcely  sup- 
porting herself  upon  her  failing  limbs  for  tremb- 
ling joy,  and  a  sweet,  undefined  hope  of  —  she 
knew  not  what  —  immeasurable  and  unbearable 
happiness  about  to  come  upon  her.  Certain  of 
her  Jewish  friends  from  Jerusalem  at  that  mo- 
ment met  her  at  the  door,  not  knowing  that 
Jesus  had  entered  Bethany;  and  began  to  com- 
fort her,  and  to  ask  her  if  they  also  should  go 


334          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

•with  her  to  weep  at  the  grave  of  Lazarus;  for 
they  said: 

"She  goeth  unto  the  grave  to  weep  there!" 

"She  goes  to  see  Jesus,  the  friend  of  Lazarus, 
for  he  calleth  her,"  answered  Martha,  smiling 
with  eagerness,  and  speaking  with  an  animation 
that  presented  a  singular  contrast  to  her  late 
deep  grief. 

Mary  hastened  to  where  Jesus  sat  by  the  foun- 
tain, bathing  his  dusty  and  wounded  feet,  and 
discoursing  to  those  about  him  upon  the  resur- 
rection of  the  dead.  Upon  seeing  Mary,  he  ex- 
tended his  hand,  but  she  sank  at  his  feet,  and 
bathing  them  with  her  tears,  wiped  them  with 
her  gleaming  black  hair. 

"Lord,"  she  said,  in  her  sister's  words,  with 
great  emotion,  "if  thou,  Lord,  hadst  been  here, 
my  brother  had  not  died." 

Then  bowing  her  head  to  the  edge  of  the 
marble  basin,  she  wept  very  heavily.  The  Jews, 
men  and  women,  who  stood  about,  being 
touched  with  her  sorrow,  also  wept,  while  glitter- 
ing tears  coursed  their  way  down  the  face  of  the 
beloved  John,  his  disciple,  who  stood  near. 

Jesus  sighed  deeply,  and  groaned  in  spirit  as 
he  beheld  her  grief,  and  their  mourning  with 
her.  His  sacred  countenance  was  marred  with 
the  anguish  of  his  soul. 

"Rise,  let  us  go  to  the  grave  where  he  lieth!" 
he  said  to  them.  "Where  have  ye  laid  him?" 

"Come,  dear  Lord,  and  see,"  answered  Mary, 
taking  him  by  the  sleeve  of  the  robe,  and  draw- 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          885 

ing  him  towards  the  place  of  the  tombs  in  the 
vale  of  Olivet. 

In  the  meanwhile,  at  home,  Martha  had  been 
diligently,  and  with  strange  cheerfulness,  getting 
in  readiness  the  room  of  Lazarus.  She  swept 
and  dusted  it,  and  garnished  it  with  fresh  flowers, 
which  she  gathered  in  the  little  garden. 

"This  is  the  rose  he  set  out  and  loved.  This 
is  the  violet  which  blooms  immortal.  I  will 
place  it  upon  his  pillow,"  she  said  with  joyous 
hilarity,  softened  by  the  most  lovely  look  of 
peace;  while  hope  shone  in  her  eyes  like  twin 
morning  stars  ushering  in  a  glorious  day.  She 
spoke  scarcely  above  her  breath,  and  moved  on 
tip-toe. 

"For  whom  is  this  preparation,  dearest  Mar- 
tha? For  Jesus?"  I  asked. 

"Oh,  no!  The  Lord's  own  room  is  ready. 
Mary  has  prepared  that.  This  is  Lazarus's 
room,  and  I  am  decorating  it  for  him!" 

"Dost  thou  truly  believe  that  he  is  coming 
back  from  the  dead?"  I  asked,  between  doubt 
and  strange  fear. 

"Believe!  Oh,  yes.  I  know  that  nothing  is 
impossible  with  him !  I  doubt  no  more.  My  faith 
trembles  no  longer.  He  will  raise  up  my  brother, 
and  this  day  he  shall  sit  down  at  our  table  with 
us  again,  and  this  night  rest  his  head  in  peaceful 
slumber  upon  this  pillow  which  I  am  strewing 
with  his  favorite  flowers.  Never  had  house  two 
such  guests  as  we  shall  have  this  day — the  Mes- 
sias  of  God,  and  one  come  back  alive  from  the 
dead!" 


836          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUS3  OF  DAVID. 

At  this  moment  we  heard  the  noise  of  the 
multitude  passing  by,  and  it  being  told  us  that 
Jesus  was  going  to  the  grave,  Martha,  embracing 
me  with  a  heavenly  smile,  drew  me  gently  after 
her,  to  follow  the  blessed  Prophet  to  the  tomb. 
All  Bethany  was  in  his  footsteps.  Wonder  and 
eager  expectation  were  on  every  face.  There 
was  no  outcry ;  no  lawless  uproar  in  the  vast  con- 
course, but  rather  a  subdued  unde.  -current  mur- 
mur of  awe  and  curiosity. 

How  shall  I  describ^  Jesus,  as  he  then  ap- 
peared! He  wore  upon  one  shoulder,  from 
which  it  was  almost  dragged  by  the  eager  hand 
of  Martha,  a  blue  garment,  woven  without  seam 
throughout,  the  affectionate  work  and  gift  of  the 
two  sisters.  Plis  face  ,vas  pale  and  sad,  yet  a 
certain  divine  majesty  seemed  resting  thereon, 
so  that  his  calm,  high  forehead  looked  like  a 
throne.  His  large,  earnest  eyes,  richly  brown  in 
hue,  and  darkly  shaded  by  sable  lashes,  were  full 
of  sorrow.  His  chiseled  mouth  was  compressed, 
but  the  swelling  of  the  nether  lip  betrayed  the 
effort  he  made  to  suppress  the  outbursting  cf 
his  heart's  deep  grief. 

Slowly  he  moved  onward,  and  entering  the 
cemetery,  he  stood  before  the  tomb  of  his  be- 
loved friend. 

For  a  few  moments  he  stood  gazing  upon  the 
door  of  the  cave  in  silence.  There  reigned  an 
expectant  hush  among  the  vast  throng.  Mary 
knelt  at  his  feet  gazing  up  into  his  countenance 
with  a  sublime  expression  of  hope  and  trust. 
Martha  drew  softly  near,  and  fell  upon  her  knees 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.          337 

by  the  side  of  her  sister.  Jesus  looked  tenderly 
upon  them,  and  then  resting  his  eyes  upon  the 
tomb,  he  wept.  Large,  glittering  tears  rolled 
down  his  cheeks,  and  glanced  from  his  flowing 
beard  to  the  ground.  One  of  the  precious  drops 
struck  upon  the  back  of  my  hand,  as  I  knelt  by 
the  side  of  the  sisters. 

"Behold  how  he  loved  him!"  whispered  the 
Jews  present. 

Others  said: 

"Could  not  this  man,  which  opened  the  eyes 
of  the  blind,  have  caused  that  even  this  man 
should  not  have  died?" 

Jesus,  uttering  a  deep  sigh,  now  came  nearer 
the  grave.  It  was,  as  I  have  before  said,  a  cave, 
and  a  stone  lay  upon  it.  With  a  slight  move- 
ment of  his  right  hand  to  those  who  stood  by, 
he  said  in  a  tone  that,  though  low,  was  heard  by 
the  whole  people,  so  solemn  was  the  surrounding 
stillness, 

"Take  ye  away  the  stone!" 

"Lord,"  said  Martha,  "by  this  time  he  is  offen- 
sive, for  he  hath  been  dead  four  days." 

"Daughter,"  said  Jesus,  looking  on  her,  "said 
I  not  to  thee  a  little  while  since,  if  thou  wilt  be- 
lieve that  I  can  raise  up  thy  brother,  thou  shalt 
see  him  alive  again.  Believe,  and  thou  shalt 
behold  the  glory  and  power  of  God!" 

The  men,  then,  with  some  difficulty  took  away 
the  stone  from  the  door  of  the  sepulchre,  and 
stood  it  upon  one  side.  The  dark  vault  yawned 
with  gloomy  horror,  and  so  corrupt  was  the  air 


838          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

that  rushed  out,  all  fell  back  from  it,  save  Jesus 
and  Mary,  several  steps. 

Jesus  stood  looking  into  the  cave,  where,  as 
our  eyes  became  accustomed  to  the  darkness 
within,  we  could  discern  the  corpse  of  Lazarus, 
covered  with  the  grave  mantle,  and  his  face 
bound  with  the  napkin  which  was  already  dis- 
colored with  the  sepulchral  damp  of  the  grave. 

Raising  his  hands  towards  heaven,  and  lifting 
up  his  holy  eyes,  which  were  yet  moist  with 
tears,  Jesus  said  in  a  voice  of  indescribable 
pathos  and  earnestness  of  appeal,  and  with  a 
manner  of  the  most  awful  reverence : 

"Father,  I  thank  thee  that  thou  hast  heard  me. 
And  I  know  that  thou  nearest  me  always;  but 
because  of  the  people  which  stand  by  do  I  offer 
tmto  thee  this  prayer,  that  they  may  believe  that 
the  power  I  have  cometh  from  thee,  and  that 
they  may  believe  thou  hast  sent  me.  And  now, 
oh  Holy  Father,  may  I  glorify  thee  on  the  earth 
with  the  power  which  thou  hast  given  me!" 

He  then  turned  towards  the  tomb,  and  stretch- 
ing forth  his  hand,  he  cried  with  a  loud  voice, 
that  made  every  heart  quake: 

"Lazarus,  Come  Forth!" 

My  blood  stood  still  in  my  heart.  Scarcely 
daring  to  look,  I  looked  and  beheld  what  all  eyes 
also  saw,  the  corpse  stand  up  within  the  vault, 
and  turning  round  with  its  face  towards  us,  came 
forth,  bound  hand  and  foot  with  grave  clothes, 
and  his  face  bound  about  with  a  napkin.  His 
countenance  was  like  marble  for  whiteness,  and 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  339 

his  eyes,  which  were  open,  looked  supernaturally 
brilliant. 

At  beholding  him,  a  simultaneous  shriek  burst 
from  the  bosoms  of  the  people,  and  a  backward 
rush  of  ail  who  were  nighest  the  cave. 

Martha,  uttering  her  brother's  name,  fell  for- 
ward upon  her  face,  and  lay  insensible. 

"Loose  him  and  let  him  go  free!"  said  Jesus, 
calmly,  to  the  petrified  and  amazed  men  who  had 
taken  away  the  stone.  Mary  was  the  first  one 
who  had  the  firmness  to  approach  him,  and  re- 
move the  napkin  from  the  sides  of  his  face,  while 
others,  taking  courage  by  her  example,  hastened 
to  unswathe  his  arms  and  feet.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments he  was  free  from  his  outer  grave  clothes, 
and  the  color  of  his  cheeks  came  to  him,  his  lips 
flushed  brilliantly  with  red,  his  eyes  looked  natu- 
ral, and  beamed  with  wonder  and  love  as  he 
gazed  about  him.  Seeing  Jesus,  he  was  about 
to  cast  himself  at  his  feet  in  gratitude  (for  he 
seemed  to  know  all  that  had  happened),  but  the 
mighty  Prophet  drew  him  to  his  embrace  and 
kissed  him.  Mary,  at  first  shrinking  from  awe, 
now  threw  herself,  blind  with  tears  of  joy,  into 
his  arms,  and  Martha  was  raised  up  by  him  to 
his  manly  breast,  and  his  loved  voice,  breathed 
tenderly  into  her  ear,  recalled  her  to  the  con- 
sciousness of  her  happiness. 

But  my  pen  refuses  to  find  language  to  express 
the  unspeakable  emotions  of  joy  and  gratitude, 
words  of  love  and  praise,  that  filled  all  hearts. 
Lazarus,  the  new-born  from  the  dead,  blooming 
in  the  rich  hues  of  complete  health,  walked 


340          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

homeward  by  the  side  of  Jesus,  while  the  sisters 
hung  upon  him  with  deep  thankfulness  over- 
flowing their  happy  hearts.  Now  the  great 
Prophet,  now  Lazarus,  and  now  Jesus  again,  re- 
ceived the  plaudits  of  the  vast  throng  of  people. 
Hymns  were  chanted  to  Jehovah  as  we  passed 
through  the  streets,  and  so  many  fell  down  to 
worship  Jesus,  that  it  was  long  before  we  crossed 
the  threshold  of  the  dwelling,  which  Jesus  did 
indeed  enter  with  Lazarus  by  his  side.  And 
Martha  did  see  him  sit  at  the  same  table,  and  that 
night  saw  his  head  rest  in  deep  slumber  upon  the 
flower- strewn  pillow  which  her  faith  and  love  had 
prepared  for  him. 

Thus,  my  dear  father,  have  I  given  you  a  re- 
cital of  the  particulars  of  this  mighty  miracle, 
the  report  of  which  has  filled  all  Jerusalem  with 
amazement,  and  must  lead  the  priests  and  the 
people  to  acknowledge  Jesus  to  be  the  Messias 
of  God,  him  of  whom  Moses  and  the  Prophets 
did  write.  Do  you  doubt  longer,  my  dear 
father? 

This  letter  will  meet  you  at  Gaza.  With  the 
hope  of  soon  embracing  you,  I  remain  as  ever, 

Your  loving  daughter, 

ADINA, 


LETTER    XXVIII. 

My  Dear  Father: — Your  letter  from  Gaza 
came  safely  to  my  hand?  this  morning,  by  the 
courtesy  of  the  Roman  courier  of  the  Procurator. 
I  read  it  with  deep  grief  and  feelings  of  the  sad- 
dest disappointment.  Instead  of  a  letter,  I  ex- 
pected to  see  you  in  person,  and  when  I  heard 
Melee  call  out  that  a  horseman  had  alighted  at 
the  gate,  I  ran  down  into  the  court,  crying,  "My 
father,  my  dearest  father!"  and  when,  instead  of 
rushing  into  your  ^mbrace,  I  was  met  by  the 
mailed  and  helmeted  figure  of  an  armed  Roman, 

0  you  may  judge  of  the  reaction  upon  my  heart. 

1  read   your  letter   with   tears;   but   you   have 
taught  me  to  bear  patiently  what  cannot  be  re- 
voked, and  I  have  schooled  my  impatience  till 
the  God  of  our  fathers  shall  bring  you,  in  his  own 
good  time,  to  your  loving  and  longing  daughter. 
I  trust  that  the  two  Arabian  merchants,  from 
Eziongeber,  whom  you  are  delaying  to  see,  will 
not  be  long  journeying  to  Gaza,  and  that  on 


842          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

their  arrival  you  will  speedily  conclude  the  com- 
merce, which  you  write  it  is  so  important  to  your 
interests  should  be  effected.  In  the  meanwhile  I 
will  try  and  wait  with  serenity  and  peace  the  day 
of  your  coming,  and  continue  to  write  to  you  as 
the  only  solace  which  can  compensate  for  not  be- 
holding and  speaking  with  you.  Like  all  my 
letters,  dearest  father,  the  theme  of  this  wfll  be 
Jesus,  whom  I  unspeakably  rejoice  to  hear  you 
are  beginning  to  regard  with  more  favorable 
eyes,  saying  in  your  last  letter,  these  words, 
which  made  my  heart  bound  with  joy : 

"Were  I  to  resist  the  testimony  of  the  miracles 
which  this  wonderful  Nazarine  Prophet  hath  evi- 
dently done,  especially  that  of  raising  Lazarus, 
the  scribe,  from  the  dead,  I  fear  I  should  be  fight- 
ing against  God;  for  who  can  restore  life  and 
soul  to  the  dead  but  Jehovah  alone!  The  fame 
of  the  raising  of  Lazarus,  as  well  as  many  of  the 
other  miracles  which  he  has  done,  has  reached 
me  by  other  channels  than  your  letters,  and  the 
accounts  fully  corroborate  all  you  have  so  en- 
thusiastically written.  Nay,  there  is  now  here 
in  Gaza,  on  his  return  from  Damascus,  to  Alex- 
andria, my  friend,  Abraham  Gehazi,  the  silk  mer- 
chant, who  was  passing  through  Bethany  at  the 
moment,  and,  halting  with  his  party,  witnessed 
the  miracle.  He  spoke  with  Lazarus,  and  con- 
fesses to  me  that  Jesus  is  evidently  a  mighty 
Prophet,  sent  from  God !  This  I  am  ready  to  be- 
lieve, also,  my  daughter;  and  when  I  behold  him 
I  am  ready  to  do  him  the  homage  I  would  offer 
to  Isaiah  or  Daniel,  were  they  now  alive.  That 


THE    PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  343 

he  is  the  Christ,  I  cannot  yet  believe;  for  Christ 
is  to  be  a  prince  and  king,  and  to  sit  on  the 
throne  of  David,  and  give  laws  to  the  nations: 
before  whom  every  crowned  head  shall  fall  pros- 
trate, every  knee  bow  in  reverence,  and  at  whose 
feet  the  sceptres  of  the  earth  shall  be  laid  in  sub- 
mission! A  humble  carpenter's  son,  prophet  of 
God  though  he  may  be,  cannot  realize  the  idea 
of  the  person  of  the  Messias!  Turn  to  Esaias, 
and  behold  how  his  language  glitters  with  the 
splendor  of  the  prophesies  he  enunciates  of  the 
power,  glory,  and  dominion  on  earth,  of  the  Son 
of  David!  How  can  these  prophetic  words  ap- 
ply to  the  prophet  whom  you  love  to  honor? 
That  the  hand  of  the  Lord  is  upon  him,  and  that 
mighty  works  show  forth  themselves  in  him, 
doubtless  cannot  be  disputed;  but  that  he  is  the 
Shiloh  of  Jacob,  the  kingly  Lion  of  the  tribe  of 
Judah,  I  cannot,  for  a  moment,  entertain  the 
idea;  for  if  I  accept  him  as  Messias,  neither  have 
I,  nor  my  countrymen  at  large  in  Israel,  nor  the 
scribes,  nor  the  fathers  in  Jerusalem,  read  the 
Prophets  aright,  but  rather  with  eyes  blind- 
folded; for  to  Jesus  they  do  not,  cannot  aim,  else 
we  have  altogether  misunderstood  what  is  writ- 
ten in  Moses  and  in  the  Prophets,  and  in  the 
Psalms,  concerning  the  Christ." 

Such,  my  dear  father,  is  a  part  of  your  letter, 
which  I  quote,  in  order  to  reply  to  it,  if  I  may  do 
so,  without  presumption.- 

You  confess,  dearest  father,  that  you  are  at 
length  convinced  that  Jesus  is  a  Prophet,  and 
that  God  is  with  him,  for  he  could  not  do  such 


344  THE   PRINCE    OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   DAVID. 

great  miracles,  except  the  power  of  God  was 
upon  him.  Now,  if  God  co-operates  with  Jesus ; 
if  God,  so  to  speak,  lends  him  his  power,  endows 
him  with  his  own  attributes,  so  that,  like  God,  he 
heals,  stills  tempests,  restores  lost  limbs,  raises 
the  dead  from  their  graves  alive  again,  it  is  be- 
cause God  has  chosen  him  from  among  men,  in 
order  to  clothe  him  with  his  mighty  and  divine 
attributes.  Now,  that  he  chose  him,  and  invested 
him  therewith,  it  is  evident  that  he  did  so  because 
he  delights  in  him;  because  he  loves  him,  and 
would  greatly  honor  him.  To  be  the  chosen  re- 
cipient, by  the  Lord  God  Jehovah, of  such  mighty 
powers,  Je:rus  must  be  good,  must  be  holy,  pious, 
and  full  of  those  holy  virtues  in  which  the  Al- 
mighty delirhts ;  in  a  word,  God  must  approve  of 
his  character  and  be  content  with  whatsoever  is 
done  by  him. 

Now  Jesus,  thus  favored  by  God,  whose  power 
to  work  miracles  you  yourself,  my  dear  father, 
have  confessed  must  be  conferred  by  Jehovah 
alone,  distinctly  and  everywhere  asserts  that  he 
is  Messias,  the  Son  of  God,  the  Shiloh  of  Israel, 
of  whom  Moses  and  the  Prophets  so  eloquently 
wrote.  Besides  claiming  for  himself  this  high 
character,  he  was  heard,  both  by  my  Uncle  Amos 
and  myself,  in  the  synagogue  at  Bethany,  two 
days  after  he  raised  Lazarus  from  the  dead,  to 
read  from  Esaias  the  words  following,  and  apply 
them  to  himself,  which  he  had  done  also  before 
at  Nazareth: 

"The  spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me,  because  he 
hath  anointed  me  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  the 


THE  PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUS£   OF   DAVID.          345 

poor:  he  hath  sent  me  to  heal  the  broken- 
hearted, to  preach  deliverance  to  the  captives, 
and  recovery  of  sight  to  the  blind:  to  set  at 
liberty  them  that  are  bruised:  to  preach  the  ac- 
ceptable year  of  the  Lord." 

When  he  had  read  this  prophecy,  which  all  our 
people,  dear  father,  do  acknowledge  to  refer  to 
Messias,  when  he  cometh,  he  closed  the  book, 
and  gave  it  again  to  the  officiating  scribe,  and 
sat  down.  The  synagogue  was  thronged,  so 
that  people  trod  upon  one  another;  for  the  fame 
of  his  miracles  had  brought  people  to  hear  and 
see  him,  not  only  from  Jerusalem,  but  from  all 
Judea,  and  Decapolis,  and  beyond  Jordan;  nay, 
his  fame,  it  seemeth,  is  spread  abroad  in  all  the 
world.  All  eyes  are  now  intent,  and  all  ears  are 
ready  to  hear  what  he  should  speak.  He  then 
said  unto  them,  "This  day  is  this  Scripture  ful- 
filled in  your  ears.  Ye  ask  me,  oh  scribes  and 
men  of  Israel,  to  tell  you  plainly  who  I  am, 
whether  I  am  the  Christ  or  no.  What  saith  the 
Prophet  of  the  Messias  when  he  shall  come?  Ye 
have  just  heard  his  words.  If  such  works  as  he 
prophesieth  do  show  forth  themselves  in  me,  ye 
know  who  I  am." 

Here  a  voice  crkd  out  in  the  assembly: 

"Tell  us  plainly,  art  thou  Christ,  the  Son  of  the 
Highest?" 

At  this  direct  inquiry  there  was  intense  in- 
terest shown  to  hear  the  reply. 

Jesus  was  about  to  answer,  when  a  man,  who 
stood  near  the  reading  desk,  in  whom  was  an  un- 


346  THE   PRINCE    OF   THE    HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

clean  spirit,  cried  out,  with  a  shrieking  voice  of 
mingled  terror  and  awe: 

"Let  me  alone!  Leave  me  as  I  am,  thou  Jesus 
of  Nazareth!  Art  thou  come  hither  to  destroy 
me!  I  know  thee  who  thou  art,  the  Holy  One  of 
God?" 

Upon  this  Jesus  turned  to  the  multitude,  and 
said:  "The  very  devils  bear  witness  to  me,  who  I 
am!  and  if  these  should  hold  their  peace,  these 
walls  would  find  voices,  and  speak."  Then  Jesus 
rebuked  the  devil  which  possessed  the  man  (who 
was  Jaius,  a  Roman  proselyte  of  the  gate,  who 
had  long  spread  terror  in  the  suburbs,  by  his  ex- 
ceeding madness  and  ferocity),  and  said  to  the 
devil,  in  a  voice  of  a  master  commanding  a  bond 
slave: 

"Hold  thy  peace,  Satan!  The  Son  of  Man 
needeth  not,  though  thou  givest  it,  thy  testi- 
mony. Hold  thy  peace,  and  come  out  of  the 
man!" 

At  this  word  the  man  uttered  a  fearful  cry  of 
despair  and  rage,  and  foaming  at  the  mouth,  cast 
himself,  or  rather  was  thrown  down  by  the  devil 
within  him,  to  the  ground;  where,  after  a  mo- 
ment's terrific  struggle,  with  contortions  of 
bodily  anguish,  he  lay  senseless  as  if  dead. 
Jesus  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  he  stood  up, 
and  looking  in  the  face  of  the  Prophet  with  earn  - 
estness  and  wonder,  he  burst  into  tears  of  grati- 
tude, exclaiming: 

"I  am  escaped  as  a  bkd  out  of  the  snare  of  the 
fowler;  the  snare  is  broken,  and  I  am  escaped. 
God  hath  delivered  me  out  of  the  hand  of  my 


THE  PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  847 

enemy!''  He  then  sat  at  the  feet  of  Jesus  calm, 
grateful,  happy,  and  in  his  right  mind,  while  all 
gazed  on  him  with  wonder;  while  from  the  great 
mass  of  the  people  rose  a  great  shout  (for  they 
were  all  amazed),  saying: 

"This  is  none  other  than  the  Christ,  the  son  of 
David!  This  is  the  king  of  Israel!"  While  the 
loud  shouts  of  "Hosanna!  hosanna!  hosanna!" 
cheered  by  a  thousand  voices,  "Hosanna  to  our 
king!"  shook  like  a  passing  storm  the  syna- 
gogue. 

At  this,  when  the  noise  had  a  little  subsided, 
some  of  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees  said,  reprov- 
ing him  for  not  rebuking  thece  cries-. 

"Who  is  this  that  suffereth  himself  to  be  hailed 
as  king!  This  is  treason  to  the  emperor!" 

At  this  moment,  yEmilius,  the  Roman  knight, 
appeared  at  the  door  of  the  synagogue,  attended 
by  half  a  dozen  soldiers,  he  happening  to  be  pass- 
ing at  the  moment  on  some  duty,  and  stopped  to 
listen.  No  sooner  did  the  eyes  of  these  wicked 
Jews  catch  the  gleam  of  his  helmet,  and  behold 
his  tall  plume  rising  above  the  head  of  his  people, 
than  they  cried  out,  with  eager  loyalty,  to  their 
conquerors,  at  the  same  time  looking  at  yEmilius, 
to  get  his  approbation: 

"We  have  no  king  but  Caesar!  Down  with 
the  traitor!  He  who  maketh  himself  king  rebels 
against  our  most  mighty  emperor.  Away  with 
him!  Arrest  him,  most  noble  Roman!  Drag 
him  before  the  Procurator  Pilate!" 

^milius — who  well  understands  these  envious 
Jews,  and  who  is  wise  in  the  knowledge  of  what 


b'iS          THE   PRIKCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

Jesus  teaches,  and  who  loves  him  as  a  brother, 
and  reveres  him  as  a  father — /Emilius  remained 
quiet,  giving  no  signs  that  he  would  do  the  will 
of  these  wicked  enemies  of  the  Prophet.  Jesus 
then  said,  in  a  loud,  clear  voice, — 

"My  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world!  I  seek  not 
an  earthly  throne  or  earthly  scepfere.  My  king- 
dom is  from  above.  Ye  say  truly,  I  am  king," 
he  added,  with  indescribable  majesty  of  manner; 
"and  hereafter  ye  shall  behold  me  sitting  upon 
the  throne  of  heaven,  high  and  lifted  up,  with  the 
earth  my  foot-stool,  and  before  me  every  knee 
shall  bow,  of  things  in  heaven,  of  things  on  earth, 
and  things  under  the  earth!" 

When  he  had  thus  far  spoken,  he  could  not 
proceed  farther,  on  account  of  the  sudden  and 
immense  uproar  which  his  words  produced. 
Some  shouted  "hosannas;"  others  said  he  blas- 
phemed; one  cried  for  the  Roman  guard,  another 
for  the  priests,  to  eject  him  from  the  tribune; 
many  rushed  towards  him,  to  cast  themselves  at 
his  feet,  while  many,  putting  their  fingers  in  their 
ears,  hurried  forth  from  the  synagogue,  crying, — 

"His  blasphemies  will  cause  the  house  to  fall 
upon  us,  and  crush  us!" 

Never  was  such  an  uproar  heard.  In  the 
midst  of  it  Jesus  conveyed  himself  away,  none 
knew  where;  and  when  I  returned  to  the  house 
of  Martha,  I  heard  his  low,  earnest,  touching 
voice  in  prayer  to  God,  in  his  little  chamber, 
He  had  sought  its  sacred  quiet,  to  be  alone  with 
his  Father  in  Heaven!  At  times  I  could  hear 
him  praying  and  supplicating,  in  tones  of  the 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVIP.  349 

most  heart-breaking  pathos ;  at  others,  the  silence 
of  his  room  was  only  broken,  at  intervals,  by 
sighs  and  pitiful  groans,  that  seemed  to  come 
from  a  breaking  and  crushed  heart!  Oh,  what 
hand  may  remove  the  veil,  and  reveal  what 
passed  there  in  that  holy  retirement,  between  the 
Prophet  and  his  God!  It  was  late  in  the  day 
when  he  came  forth,  Martha  having  softly  tapped 
at  his  door,  to  say  that  the  evening  meal  was 
prepared,  and  alone  waited  for  him.  When  he 
appeared,  his  face  was  colorless  and  bore  traces 
of  weeping,  and  though  he  smiled  kindly  upon  us 
all,  as  he  was  wont  to  do,  thf.re  was  a  deep-seated 
sorrow  upon  his  countenance,  that  brought  tears 
to  my  eyes!  yEmilius  joined  us  at  the  table,  and 
with  dear  Lazarus  and  with  Uncle  Amos,  we 
passed  a  sacred  hour;  for  the  Prophet  ate  not, 
but  talked  to  us  much  and  sweetly  of  the  love  of 
God;  and  as  all  listened,  the  viands  were  for- 
gotten, notwithstanding  Martha  more  than  once 
ventured  to  remind  her  blessed  guest  that  such 
and  such  a  thing  was  before  him,  and  that  she 
had  prepared  it  for  him  with  her  own  hands. 
But,  like  him,  we  all  feasted  upon  the  heavenly 
food,  the  bread  of  life,  which  fell,  like  manna, 
from  his  consecrated  lips. 

Such,  then,  my  dear  father,  is  the  testimony, 
as  you  have  seen,  in  what  I  have  above  related, 
which  Jesus  publicly  bears  to  himself,  that  he  is 
the  very  Christ  who  should  come  into  the  world. 
There  can  be  no  further  doubt  of  the  fact  nowthat 
he  has  so  plainly  stated  it,  pointing  to  the  proph- 


350          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

ecies,  which  he  is  daily  fulfilling  by  mighty 
works,  in  proof  of  the  truth  of  his  assertion. 

Now  to  what  irresistible  conclusion,  to  what 
inevitable  consequence,  do  we  arrive?  Is  it  not 
that  He  is  the  Christ?  This  result  cannot  be 
avoided.  Either  Jesus  is  Messias,  as  he  asserts, 
and  his  miracles  prove,  or  he  is  not.  Now  if  he 
is  not,  then  he  is  an  imposter  and  a  falsifier,  as 
well  as  a  fearful  blasphemer  of  Jehovah !  If  he  is 
these  three,  we  then  have  the  Almighty  confer- 
ring upon  an  imposter  his  own  Almighty  attri- 
butes, giving  him  power  to  heal,  to  cast  out 
devils,  to  control  the  elements,  to  raise  the  dead ! 
that  is,  bearing  testimony  to  the  truth  of  one 
whom  He  never  sent,  empowered,  nor  author- 
ized to  be  his  Christ,  and  in  whom  there  is  no 
truth. 

Moreover,  the  miracles  of  Jesus,  you  admit, 
prove  him  to  have  come  from  God,  while  you 
deny  his  claim  to  be  Messias.  Now,  if  Jesus 
truly  came  from  God,  as,  looking  at  his  miracu- 
lous power,  you  readily  admit,  he  cannot  be  a 
sinner:  he,  therefore,  cannot  assert  of  himself 
what  is  not  true.  Yet  he  asserts  that  he  is  the 
Christ.  He,  then,  either  did  come  from  God,  or 
he  is  a  deceiver,  and  there  is  no  truth  in  him! 
But  you  will  not  consent  to  charge  such  char- 
acter upon  a  man  who  heals  with  a  word,  who 
casts  out  demons,  who  raises  the  dead  to  life,  and 
who  proclaims  such  pure  precepts,  and  the  neces- 
sity of  holiness  in  men,  in  order  to  enjoy  the 
favor  of  God!  We,  therefore,  are  forced  to  the 
irresistible  conclusion,  that  either  the  miracu- 


THE  PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID  351 

lous  power,  with  which  Jesus  is  invested,  did 
come  from  God,  and  that  he  is,  as  he  says,  the 
true  and  very  Christ  of  the  prophets  and  pa- 
triarchs, or  that  God  has  endowed  a  blasphemer 
of  his  name,  an  imposter,  with  his  own  powers, 
and  indorses  the  imposture  by  continuing  these 
powers  to  him  in  every  miracle  that  he  performs. 
Jesus  is,  therefore,  the  Christ.  Do  not,  by  any 
artful  subterfuge,  dearest  father,  attempt  to  avoid 
this  conclusion!  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  or  we  make 
both  God  and  the  Prophet  liars  and  co-partners 
in  an  enormous  imposture !  Jesus  is  Christ,  and 
let  God  be  true,  though  all  men  be  found  liars. 
Pardon  me,  dearest  father,  if  I  have  been  too 
warm  and  urgent  in  my  efforts  to  bring  you  to 
accept  Jesus  as  the  Christ.  Convinced,  as  I  am, 
that  he  is  Messias,  I  cannot  but  ardently  desire 
that  you,  also,  should  come  to  the  knowledge  of 
this  truth.  What  he  is  yet  to  be,  how  he  is  yet 
to  develop  his  majesty  and  power,  is  unknown 
to  us  all.  Some  do  think  that  he  will  enter  Jeru- 
salem, ere  long,  attended  by  tens  of  thousands  of 
his  followers,  and  that  before  him  Pilate  will 
peaceably  vacate  his  Procuratoral  chair,  and  re- 
tire, not  only  from  the  Holy  City,  but  from 
Judea,  with  his  legions;  and  that  Jesus  will  as- 
cend the  throne  of  David;  the  glory  of  the  age 
of  Solomon  be  revived  under  his  rule;  and  with 
the  kingdom  of  Judah  for  the  centre  of  his  power, 
he  will  extend  the  sceptre  of  his  dominion  from 
sea  to  sea,  and  from  the  river  of  Egypt  and  oi 
the  East,  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  till  all  nations 
shall  fall  down  before  him,  emperors  and  kings 


S52         THE  FRINGE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

sit  at  his  feet,  and  every  tongue  and  language 
and  speech  in  the  whole  world  acknowledge  him 
to  be  the  King  of  Israel,  King  of  kings  and  Lord 
of  Lords;  while  under  the  splendor  of  his  reign 
Jerusalem  and  Judah  will  be  more  powerful  than 
all  the  cities  and  kingdoms  that  have  ever  been 
On  the  earth,  and  to  the  dominion  and  glory  of 
our  people  there  will  be  no  end. 

Such,  dear  father,  is  the  future  of  Jesus,  as 
looked  for  by  all  his  disciples,  save  one,  and  this 
is  John,  the  betrothed  of  my  cousin  Mary.  He 
is  more  closely  intimate  with  Jesus  than  any 
other  man;  and  is  so  beloved  by  him  that  he 
makes  known  to  him  many  things  which  he  with- 
holds from  the  rest.  John,  on  hearing  our  views 
of  the  coming  glory  of  the  Prophet,  looks  sadly, 
and  says: 

"Not  now — not  here — not  in  this  world!  The 
glory  of  Jesus  you  will  behold,  but  first,  we  must 
pass  through  the  valley  of  darkness,  the  gate  of 
the  tomb.  His  kingdom  is  not  on  the  earth,  but 
in  the  heavens.  Here,  I  fear,  he  will  pass 
through  suffering  and  sorrow,  and,  perhaps,  a 
painful  death,  for  he  has  told  me  that  he  came  to 
suffer  and  die,  and  that  he  can  only  win,  bleeding 
from  every  vein,  the  kingdom,  over  which  he  is 
hereafter  to  reign  in  endless  dominion.  Pre- 
pare your  hearts,  dear  friends,"  he  would  say,  "to 
be  rent,  and  your  eyes  for  tears,  rather  than  fill 
your  imaginations  with  pictures  of  glory,  splen- 
dor and  power.  He  has  distinctly  said  to  me,  'I 
must  first  suffer  many  things  at  the  hands  of 
men,  before  I  enter  upon  my  reign  of  glory. 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OP  DAVID.  358 

The  Jews  will  seek  me  to  kill  me,  and  I  shall  be 
taken  from  among  you1,  but  let  not  sorrow  fill 
your  hearts.  Death  can  haye  no  power  over  me 
save  such  as  I  permit  it  to  hold.  I  lay  down  my 
life,  and  I  take  it  again.  Through  much  tribula- 
tion and  sorrow  must  the  Son  of  God  win  the 
sceptre  of  this  earth  from  him  who  hath  the 
power  over  the  nations,  even  from  Satan,  the 
prince  of  this  world.  I  shall  conquer,  but  I  must 
first  fall.  Yet  fear  not!  I  shall  make  death  the 
gateway  to  Paradise  for  you  all!' 

"Such,"  says  John,  "are  the  mysterious  and 
sorrowful  words  which  he  has  often  spoken  to 
me.  What  they  mean,  or  how  to  understand 
them,  I  know  not;  for  I  cannot  comprehend  how 
lie  who  can  raise  the  dead  can  die,  or  how  he  who 
can  calm  a  tempest  can  suffer  himself  to  be  taken 
and  slain  by  men,  the  tempest  of  whose  wrath 
he  could  as  easily  pacify!" 

Thus,  dear  father,  do  we  discourse  together 
about  this  wonderful  Prophet,  whose  future  life 
is  all  a  mystery,  save  that,  from  the  prophecies, 
we  know  it  is  to  be  inconceivably  glorious,  but 
from  his  own  lips,  first  to  be  inconceivably  sor- 
rowful. But,  whether  on  a  throne,  giving  laws 
to  the  world,  or  in  the  dust,  borne  down  by  the 
deepest  woe,  I  shall  still  love,  honor,  reverence 
Him,  and  trust  in  Him,  as  my  Saviour,  my 
Prince,  and  the  Holy  One  of  God ! 

Your  devoted  and  loving 

ADINA. 


LETTER    XXIX. 

My  Dearest  Father: — With  what  emotions  of 
grief  and  amazement  I  commence  this  letter,  you 
can  form  no  just  conception.  Jesus,  the  Pro- 
phet of  God,  is  a  prisoner  to  the  Roman  power! 
He  is  accused  of  making  himself  a  king,  and  of 
a  conspiracy  to  re-establish  the  throne  of  David ! 
And  who,  think  you,  have  accused  him  of  this 
noble  effort,  but  the  Jews,  our  own,  his  own  peo- 
ple! men  who  should  glory  in  seeing  the  do- 
minion of  the  Caesars  at  an  end :  men  who  should 
blush  longer  to  have  Mount  Zion  commanded 
by  a  Roman  citadel.  These  base,  degraded,  and 
wicked  scribes  and  priests,  whom  I  am  ashamed 
to  call  my  countrymen,  have  accused  the 
divinely-gifted  Jesus,"  before  Pilate,  of  rebellion 
and  treason!  And  at  this  moment,  while  I  write, 
he  is  in  the  ward-room  of  the  Procurator's  pal- 
ace, held  a  close  prisoner. 

But  I  fear  not  the  issue!  He  cannot  be  holden 
cf  his  foes,  save  by  his  own  free  will.  He  can, 


THE   PRINCE   OP   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  355 

with  a  word,  turn  his  chains  into  bands  of  sand, 
and  by  a  glance  render  his  guards  dead  men! 
He  will,  therefore,  escape  their  bonds!  They 
can  have  no  power  over  him.  But  will  not  the 
Lord  God  punish  our  nation  for  this  sin  and  en- 
mity against  His  Christ?  You  will  ask,  my 
father,  why,  if  he  possesses  such  mighty  power, 
hath  he  suffered  himself  to  be  taken  prisoner? 
This  question  I  cannot  answer.  It  troubles  me. 
I  wonder,  and  am  transfixed  with  amazement. 
Everyone  around  me  asks  the  same  question. 
Our  house  is  thronged  with  his  friends,  who, 
midnight  as  it  is,  have  come  hither  to  hear  if  the 
rumor  is  true.  Five  of  his  disciples  are  with 
Uncle  Amos  in  the  court,  giving  an  account  of 
the  manner  of  his  arrest,  which  I  will  relate  to 
you,  although  it  increases  the  mystery. 

It  seems  that  to-day,  after  eating  the  Passover 
with  his  twelve  chosen  friends,  he  went  forth 
with  them  towards  Olivet,  and  there  seating  him- 
self beneath  the  shade  of  a  tree,  he  talked  with 
them  very  sadly,  saying  that  his  hour  was  come, 
that  he  had  ended  his  work,  and  that  he  was 
about  to  be  delivered  into  the  hands  of  sinful 
men. 

John,  upon  being  questioned  by  cousin  Mary 
and  myself,  thus  told  us: — It  was  evening,  and' 
the  south  side  of  Olivet  lay  in  deep  shadow.  We 
were  all  sorrowful.  We  felt  each  one  of  us,  as  if 
some  grievous  evil  was  pending  over  us.  The 
tones  of  our  beloved  Master's  voice  moved  us  to 
tears,  as  much  as  his  words,  which  latter  were 
full  of  mystery.  We  were  all  present,  excepting 


356          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  T>AVID. 

Iscariot,  who  had  remained  in  the  city  to  dis- 
charge the  costs,  he  being  our  purse-bearer,  of 
the  Passover  Supper,  and  pay  for  the  hire  of  the 
room.  At  that  supper  Jesus  had  said  very 
plainly,  that  one  of  our  number  would  betray 
him  into  the  hands  of  the  priests;  who,  since  his 
triumphant  entry  into  the  Holy  City,  preceded 
and  followed  by  the  multitude,  shouting  hosan- 
nas,  and  proclaiming  him  Messias,  had  diligently 
sought  his  life.  At  hearing  our  Lord  say  these 
strange  words  in  accents  of  touching  reproach, 
we  were  all  deeply  moved;  and  Peter  and  the  rest 
at  once  questioned  him,  individually,  if  it  were 
they.  I  was  resting  at  the  moment,  with  my 
cheek  on  the  shoulder  of  Jesus,  and  said,  softly: 
"Lord,  who  is  it  that  betrayeth  thee?  I  will 
forthwith  lay  hands  upon  him,  and  prevent  his 
doing  thee  harm!"  Jesus  shook  his  head,  and 
smiling  gently,  said : 

"My  beloved  brother,  thou  knowest  not  what 
thou  wouldst  do.  The  Son  of  Man  must  needs 
be  betrayed  by  his  own  friends,  but  woe  unto 
him  who  betrayeth  me.  See  thou  who  dippeth 
bread  with  me  into  the  dish!" 

I  looked,  and  saw  Judas  reach  forward,  and 
clip  into  the  "dish  at  the  same  instant  in  which 
Jesus  dipped;  but  in  his  eagerness,  or  from  con- 
scious guilt,  his  hand  trembled,  he  spilled  the^salt 
on  the  boar'd,  an'd  the  sop  fell  from  his  grasp  into 
the  bowl ;  upon  which  Jesus  gave  him  the  piece 
he  held,  saying  to  him,  with  a  remarkable  expres- 
sion in  his  clear ,) piercineeyej^J'Judas,  what 
thou  _doest  jlojq  uic""**^^ 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  3£< 

We  were  surprised  at  the  tone  and  manner  in 
which  this  was  spoken,  but  supposed  the  com- 
mand had  reference  to  some  of  Judas's  duties, 
little  suspecting  what  fearful  thing  he  was  to  do! 
Instantly  Judas  rose  from  the  table,  and  without 
a  word,  or  casting  a  look  at  any  of  us,  went  out. 

For  a  few  moments,  after  his  footsteps  had 
ceased  to  be  heard,  there  prevailed  a  heavy 
silence  in  the  chamber;  for  a  strange  fear  had 
fallen  upon  us ;  why  we  could  not  tell ;  and  look- 
ing into  one  anothers  faces,  and  then  into  our 
dear  Master's,  we  seemed  to  await  some  dread 
event.  His  face  was  placid,  and  full  of  affection, 
as  he  looked  upon  us.  The  momentary  cloud, 
which  shaded  the  noble  profile  when  he  spoke  to 
Judas,  had  passed  off,  and  there  was  the  serenity 
of  a  cloudless  sky  in  his  face. 

"My  children,"  he  said,  "I  am  to  be  with  you 
but  a  little  while  longer.  The  hour  of  my  de- 
parture is  at  hand.  Remember  my  last  words, — 
Love  one  another!  In  this  shall  all  men  know 
that  ye  are  my  disciples." 

"Lord,"  cried  Peter,  "we  will  go  with  thee! 
Thou  shalt  not  leave  us!  nor  go  without  us!" 

"The  priests  seek  to  kill  thee,  and  thy  foot- 
steps are  watched!"  exclaimed  Andrew,  earn- 
estly. 

"Yes,  we  will  not  suffer  thee,  dear  Rabbi,  to  go 
abroad  alone,"  said  James,  with  enthusiasm; 
"our  hearts  and  hands  will  defend  thee!" 

"Whither  wilt  tjiou  depart,  Lord?"  I  asked, 
with  emotion.  "Thou  wilt  not  trust  thyself  to 
the  Jews?" 


358          TUB  PWNCE   OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

Thus  we  all,  eagerly  and  tearfully,  gathered 
around  him,  alarmed  and  grieved  at  the  words 
he  had  said.  He  regarded  us  lovingly,  and  said : 

"Little  children,  I  must  leave  you.  Whither  I 
go  you  cannot  come!" 

"Though  thou  wentest  to  the  uttermost  parts 
of  the  sea,  I  will  follow  thee,  my  Master  and 
Lord!"  exclaimed  Peter.  "Whither  goest  thou, 
that  we  may  not  follow?  I  will  lay  down  my  life 
for  thee,  and  so  will  all  these!" 

With  one  voice  we  asserted  our  devotion  to 
our  beloved  Master,  and  secretly,  I  asked  him 
whither  he  intended  to  go,  and  why  he  forbade 
us  to  go  with  him? 

"As  Abraham  bound  Isaac  his  son,  and  laid 
him  upon  the  wood,  so  shall  my  Father  cause  me 
to  be  bound  and  laid  upon  the  wood;  and  shall 
slay  me,  a  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  his  people!" 
i  "Not  so!  not  so!  Lord,"  cried  Peter.  "I  will 
die  for  thee,  ere  a  hair  of  thy  head  shall  fall." 
And  the  warm-hearted  disciple  drew  his  sword, 
and  placed  himself  by  the  side  of  Jesus,  as  if  to 
defend  him. 

"Wilt  thou  die  for  me,  Peter?"  said  Jesus,  gaz- 
ing on  him  with  a  sad,  sweet  look:  "Verily, 
verily,  Peter,  thou  little  knowest  thyself.  The 
cock  shall  not  crow  twice,  heralding  the  coming 
morning,  ere  thou  shalt  thrice  deny  that  thou 
knowest  me!" 

"Deny  thee,  Lord!"  repeated  Peter,  with 
amazed  grief  and  horror  in  his  looks. 

"Yes,  Peter,"  answered  Jesus,  firmly,  but: 
kindly;  "deny  that  you  ever  knew  me;  for  the 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  359 

time  draweth  near  when  there  will  be  safety  only 
in  confessing  ignorance  of  Jesus  the  Nazarene. 
And  all  of  you,"  he  added,  while  his  voice  grew 
tremulous,  and  tears  glistened  in  his  eyes,  "all  of 
you  shall  be  offended  because  of  me,  this  night; 
ye  shall  foe  ashamed  to  confess  that  you  are  my 
disciples,  and  ye  will  think  me  a  deceiver,  and 
will  be  displeased  at  me.  Yea,  every  one  of  you 
shall  desert  me ;  for  thus  it  is  written :  'The  Shep- 
herd shall  be  smitten,  and  the  sheep  shall  be 
scattered!"1 

At  hearing  these  words,  we  knew  not  what  to 
answer;  but  I  kissed  my  dear  Lord's  hand,  and 
said,  that  if  danger  were  hanging  over  him,  as  it 
seemed,  I  would  share  it  with  him! 

When  he  saw  that  our  hearts  were  troubled, 
and  that  we  were  sad,  and  that  the  faithful  Philip 
sobbed  aloud,  at  being  supposed  capable  of  aban- 
doning his  Master,  he  added,  "Let  not  your 
hearts  be  troubled;  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for 
you  in  my  Father's  house !" 

"Thy  father,  Lord,  liveth  at  Nazareth,  and 
hath  but  two  small  apartments  in  his  humble 
house,"  said  Thomas;  "how  sayest  thou  that  we 
are  all  to  lodge  there!" 

"Thomas,  thou  canst  understand  only  what 
thine  eyes  see.  I  speak  of  my  Father  who  is  in 
Heaven.  In  His  house  are  many  mansions." 

Jesus  then  began  plainly  to  tell  us  that  he  was 
to  die,  and  that  by  his  death  we  should  be  ad- 
mitted into  a  heavenly  Paradise,  and  live  forever. 
We  could  not  understand  all  he  said,  but  we 
knew  that  he  was  soon  to  be  taken  from  us;  and 


860          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID*. 

sorrow  filled  all  our  hearts.  After  discoursing 
with  us  in  the  most  touching  words,  he  at  length 
said: 

"Come,  let  us  go  over  to  Cedron,  to  the  gar- 
den we  so  much  loved  to  walk  in." 

We  went  out  with  him,  inclosing  him  as  a 
guard,  to  conceal  his  person  from  the  Jewish 
spies,  as  well  as  to  defend  him.  Peter  and 
James  went  before  with  drawn  swords.  In  this 
way  we  passed  through  the  gloomy  streets,  and 
forth  from  the  gate,  which  Pilate  suffered  to  be 
open  day  and  night,  on  account  of  the  crowds  at 
the  Passover,  coming  in  and  going  out.  The 
moon  shining  brightly,  and  by  its  light  glancing 
on  the  face  of  Jesus,  by  whom  I  walked,  I  saw 
that  it  was  sadder  than  its  wont,  while  he  spoke 
but  little. 

We  at  length  crossed  the  Cedron,  and  entered 
the  dark  groves  of  Olivet.  Familiar  with  all  the 
paths,  we  advanced  to  a  central  group  of  the 
venerable  Olivet  trees,  beneath  which  Abraham 
used  to  sit,  and  there  Jesus,  turning  to  us,  said, 
in  a  voice  of  the  deepest  woe: 

"Friends,  the  hour  of  my  time  of  trial  is  come! 
My  work  is  ended.  I  would  be  alone!  Remain 
you  here,  and  watch,  for  we  shall  be  sought  for. 
Come  with  me,  Peter,  and  you,  also,  James.  I 
am  going  to  pray  yonder." 

"Not  take  me,  also,  dear  Lord?"  I  said,  sor- 
rowfully. 

"Yes,  thou  art  always  with  me,  beloved,"  he 
answered;  "I  will  not  leave  thee  now." 

So  leaving  the  eight  friends  to  keep  watch 


'  THE   I'UINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  361 

against  the  intrusion  of  his  enemies,  who  were 
known  to  be  everywhere  seeking  him,  he  walked 
away  to  the  most  secluded  recesses  of  the  garden. 
He  stopped  at  the  place,  near  the  rock,  where 
Adam  is  said  to  have  hidden  from  Jehovah;  and, 
saying  to  us,  in  a  sorrowful  tone:  "Tarry  ye  here, 
while  I  go  apart,  and  pray  to  my  Father,"  he 
went  from  us  about  a  stone's  cast,  and  kneeled! 
down,  where  a  thick  olive  branch,  hanging  low 
to  the  ground,  concealed  him  from  our  view.  I 
was  so  solicitous  lest  he  should  leave  us,  and  we 
should  see  him  no  more,  that  I  soon  softly  ad- 
vanced near  to  the  spot,  and  beheld  him  pros- 
trate on  the  ground,  while  deep  groans  broke 
from  his  heart.  I  heard  his  voice  murmuring, 
but  could  not  distinguish  the  words,  broken  by 
grief;  only  the  tones  were  those  of  strange  hor- 
ror and  dread. 

As  he  prayed  thus,  in  great  agony,  I  suddenly 
beheld  a  swift  light  pass  by  me,  as  if  from  the 
skies,  and  an  angel  stood  by  the  side  of  Jesus, 
bending  over  him,  and  raising  him  up  from  the 
ground.  A  soft  bright  glory  shone  around  the 
spot,  so  that  Peter,  seeing  it,  advanced  towards 
me,  supposing  some  one  had  entered  the  garden, 
bearing  a  torch.  I  beckoned  to  Peter  to  be 
motionless,  and  he  gazed  with  me  in  speechless 
astonishment  and  admiration  upon  the  form  of 
the  angel,  from  whose  glorious  face  was  emitted 
the  radiance  which  illumined  the  place  where 
Jesus  was.  As  the  angel  raised  Jesus  from  the 
ground,  we  saw  that  his  countenance  was  con- 
vulsed with  anguish;  and  upon  his  brow  stoo3 


862          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

great  shining  drops  of  sweat,  mingled  with 
blood,  which  oozed  from  his  pallid  temples,  and 
rolling  down  his  marble  cheeks,  dropped  to  the 
ground.  Never  had  we  beheld  a  human  visage 
so  marred  by  sorrow,  so  deeply  graven  with  the 
lines  of  agony. 

The  angel  seemed  to  utter  soothing  words,  and 
pointed,  with  his  shining  hand,  towards  heaven, 
as  if  to  encourage  him  with  hope,  and  give  him 
strength.  The  face  of  Jesus  grew  more  serene; 
he  raised  his  eyes  with  a  divine  expression  of 
holy  submission,  and  said,  in  a  strong  voice: 

"Thy  will,  not  mine,  O  God,  be  doni!" 

The  angel  then  seemed  to  embrace  and  kiss 
him,  and  rose  and  disappeared,  like  a  star  return- 
ing into  the  blue  depths  of  heaven;  while  Peter 
and  I  stood  by  wondering,  and  full  of  awe,  at 
what  we  saw. 

"How  looked  the  angel?"  I  asked  of  my  cousin 
John,  interrupting  him  in  his  recital. 

"As  a  young  and  noble  youth,  with  a  coun- 
tenance so  dazzling  I  could  not  look  upon  him 
steadily.  He  seemed  to  be  clothed  in  flowing 
raiment,  silvery  white;  and  a  fragrance,  more 
delicate  and  grateful  than  the  subtlest  attar  of 
roses  of  India,  was  diffused  by  his  presence 
throughout  the  garden,  while  the  sound  of  his 
voice  seemed  to  fill  all  the  air  with  strange  musi- 
cal vibrations,  unlike  anything  heard  on  earth." 

"Had  the  angel  wings?"  asked  my  cousin 
Mary. 

"Nay,  I  could  not  well  discern,"  answered 
John.  "His  robes  seemed  to  shape  themselves 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          363 

into  wings,  as  he  rose  from  the  earth ;  and  when 
he  stood  they  flowed  with  living  grace  about  his 
god-like  form.  After  the  departure  of  the  angel, 
Jesus  seemed  calmer,  and  as  we  did  not  wish 
longer  to  intrude  upon  his  sacred  privacy,  we 
softly  returned  to  where  James  lay  asleep.  We 
remained  for  some  time  conversing  together 
upon  the  wonderful  vision  we  had  seen,  which 
confirmed  us  in  the  certainty  that  Jesus  came 
from  God,  and  was  in  truth  the  Messias,  that 
should  come;  but  at  length,  wearied  with  our 
day's  excitements,  we  must  have  fallen  asleep,  for 
we  were  suddenly  startled  by  the  voice  of  our 
dear  Master,  saying: 

"Why  sleep  ye,  children?  But  the  hour  is 
past  for  watching.  Ye  may  sleep  on  now,  for 
though  your  flesh  is  weary,  your  spirit  is  willing. 
I  need  your  aid  no  longer!" 

But  we  refused  to  sleep  longer.  We  then  ad- 
vanced to  where  the  other  disciples  were,  and 
found  them  also  asleep. 

"Arise,  let  us  be  going!"  cried  Jesus,  in  a  tone 
that  roused  them  to  their  feet;  "they  are  at  hand 
who  seek  me!" 

While  he  was  speaking,  we  saw  many  lights 
gleaming  through  the  trees,  along  King  David's 
walk,  and  thertramp  of  feet  fell  on  our  ears.  We 
soon  saw  a  large  party  advancing  into  the  midst 
of  the  garden,  who  walked  rapidly,  and  spoke 
only  in  undertones.  We  at  once  took  the  alarm, 
and  said  to  Jesus : 

"Fly,  dear  Master!    Let  us  ascend  the  hill, 


364  THE   PRINCE  OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

and  escape  by  the  way  to  Bethany ;  for  these  are 
enemies." 

"Nay,"  answered  our  dear  Master;  "I  must 
submit  to  my  Father's  will.  It  must  needs  be 
that  I  deliver  myself  into  the  hands  of  these  men ; 
how  else  shall  the  Scriptures  be  fulfilled!  Seek 
safety  in  flight  for  yourselves;  but  I  must  go 
whither  they  will  lead  me." 

"Not  so,  Lord,"  answered  Peter.  "There  is 
time  for  thee  to  escape;  or  if  not,  we  will  stand 
by  thee,  and  defend  thee!" 

So  said  all  the  disciples.  Jesus  shook  his 
head,  and  said,  with  a  sad  smile,  "Ye  know  not 
now  what  ye  say,  or  would  do.  My  hour  is 
come!" 

While  he  yet  spake,  the  multitude  drew  nearer, 
and  those  who  had  the  lead,  raising  their  torches 
high  above  their  heads,  discovered  us,  with  Jesus 
in  the  midst.  To  my  surprise  I  beheld  Judas 
acting  as  their  guide,  for  he  alone  knew  where 
his  Master  was  to  be  found  at  that  hour.  Upon 
discovering  Jesus,  this  wicked  man  ran  forward, 
with  expressions  of  attachment  in  his  face,  and 
kissed  Jesus  on  the  cheek,  saying: 

"Hail,  Master!     I  am  glad  I  have  found  thee!" 

"Judas,"  said  Jesus,  "betrayest  thou  the  Son 
of  Man  with  a  kiss!" 

When  Judas  heard  this,  he  turned  to  the  multi- 
tude, at  the  head  of  which  I  recognized  some  of 
the  chief  priests,  and  most  learned  scribes  of  the 
Temple,  and  cried  aloud: 

"This  is  he!  seize  him,  and  hold  him  fast!" 

Thereupon  the  crowd,  to  the  number  of  ten- 


TEE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  865 

score  men,  among  whom  were  the  vilest  sort  of 
people,  rushed  forward  to  lay  hands  upon  Jesus: 
the  moon  and  torches  shedding  almost  the  bright 
light  of  day  upon  the  whole  group. 

At  seeing  them  advance  so  furiously,  with 
spears,  and  clubs,  and  swords,  Peter  and  James 
placed  themselves  before  Jesus,  to  defend  him, 
while  I,  being  unarmed,  cast  myself  across  his 
breast,  to  shield  his  heart  with  my  body.  The 
more  bold  men  in  the  crowd  coming  too  near, 
Peter  smote  one  of  them  with  his  sword,  as  he 
was  reaching  out  his  arm  to  grasp  Jesus  by  the 
shoulder,  and  clave  off  his  ear.  At  seeing  this 
the  crowd  uttered  a  fierce  shout,  and  were  press- 
ing upon  us,  when  Jesus  raised  the  palm  of  his 
hand,  and  said,  quietly: 

"Whom  seek  ye?" 

Instantly  the  whole  mass  rolled  backward,  like 
a  receding  billow  rebounding  from  the  face  of  an 
immovable  rock,  and  every  man  fell  with  his 
forehead  to  the  ground,  where  they  lay  for  a  min- 
ute stunned;  and  we  twelve  stood  alone,  save 
Judas,  who  had  not  been  struck  down,  and  now 
remained  gazing  with  amazement  and  terror 
upon  the  prostrate  enemies  of  Jesus. 

"Lord!"  cried  Peter,  astonished,  "if  thou  canst 
thus  repel  thy  foes,  thou  needest  not  fear  them 
more.  Shall  I  smite  Judas  also?" 

"Nay — put  up  thy  sword,  Peter!  Let  him  re- 
main to  witness  my  power,  that  he  may  see  that 
he  nor  his  have  any  power  over  me,  save  what  I 
give  them." 

,  While  he  was  thus  speaking,  the  men  rose  to 
their  feet,  and  instead  of  flying,  they  seemed  to 


366          THE  PRIftCE  Ofr  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID, 

be  infuriated  at  their  discomfiture;  and  as  the 
chief  priests  cried  out  that  it  was  by  sorcery  they 
had  been  stricken  down,  they  rushed  madly  for- 
ward, and  laid  their  hands  upon  Jesus,  and  upon 
us  all.  In  vain  I  contended  against  numbers  to 
rescue  Jesus!  in  vain  the  sword  of  the  valiant 
Peter  flashed  in  the  torchlight,  and  fell  upon  the 
heads  of  the  captors;  overpowered  by  numbers, 
we  were  defeated,  and  driven  from  the  field  of 
contest,  leaving  Jesus  in  the  hands  of  his  ene- 
mies! 

When  John  had  gone  thus  far  in  his  relation, 
dear  father,  our  tears  and  his  were  mingled.  We 
wondered  that  Jesus,  who  could,  as  he  'had 
shown,  destroy  his  enemies  with  a  wave  of  his 
hand,  should  suffer  them  to  make  him  their 
prisoner;  for  in  their  hands  he  knew  he  must  die! 
This  amazes  and  bewilders  us.  At  one  moment 
we  are  tempted  to  lose  our  confidence  in  him, 
and  believe,  as  many  now  begin  to  say,  that  we 
have  been  following  a  deceiver,  and  in  the  next 
to  trust  fully  in  him,  and  that  he  will  yet  over- 
come his  enemies,  and  be  restored  to  us.  Every 
step  we  hear  at  the  door  makes  our  blood  bound, 
for  we  think  it  may  be  our  beloved  Lord  escaped 
from  the  hands  of  his  captors.  We  must  wait 
the  issue  with  hope  and  faith!  To-morrow  will, 
perhaps,  reveal  all.  The  mystery  that  envelops 
this  great  Prophet  is  inscrutable.  The  seeming 
contradictions  that  make  up  his  character,  be- 
wilder us.  But  we  try  and  comfort  ourselves 
•with  the  word  of  his  promise: 

"Ye  know  not  now;  but  ye  shall  know  by  and 
"by,  and  shall  believe  truly,  that  I  came  out  from 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  367 

God!  What  seems  to  you  mysterious,  shall  be 
made  clear  as  light.  Wait,  and  have  faith,  and 
all  shall  be  made  known  which  now  you  under- 
stand not.  Let  no  trials  and  degradations  ye  see 
me  pass  through  cause  your  faith  to  fail.  I  am 
come  into  this  world  to  conquer;  but  it  is  expe- 
dient first  that  I  humble  myself;  but  if  I  stoop,  it 
is  to  raise  up  the  world  with  me,  when  I  rise 
again!" 

Ah,  it  is  stooping,  indeed,  for  this  Prince  of  the 
Prophets  to  suffer  himself  to  be  led  away  bound 
by  his  foes!  But  we  hope  with  trembling,  dear 
father,  remembering  his  words! 

I  have  omitted  to  mention  to  you  what  more 
John  related,  touching  the  arrest  of  the  Prophet. 
As  the  chief  priests  bound  and  laid  their  hands 
on  him,  there  was  heard  above  in  the  air  the 
sound  of  myriads  of  rushing  wings,  and  the 
gathering  signal  of  a  trumpet  echoing  in  the 
skies,  as  if  a  countless  host  of  invisible  beings 
were  marshalling,  armies  by  armies,  in  the  mid- 
heaven.  At  this  fearful  and  sublime  sound,  all 
raised  their  heads,  but  saw  nothing;  and  Jesus 
said,  with  a  majestic  and  commanding  look,  such 
as  I  never  before  beheld  upon  his  face: 

"Ye  hear,"  he  said  to  us,  "  that  I  am  not  with- 
out heavenly  friends!  I  have  only  to  pray  my 
Father,  which  is  in  heaven,  and  He  will  bid 
twelve  legions  of  his  angels,  now  hovering, 
sword-armed,  in  the  air,  and  yearning  to  defend 
me,  descend  to  my  aid!  But  I  may  not  use  my 
powers  for  myself.  I  came  on  earth  to  suffer. 
As  a  man,  I  must  submit  to  all  things  that  come 
upon  me;  nor  make  use  of  more  means  in  my 


868         THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

behalf  than  a  man  can  do !  For  this  I  came  into 
the  world.  Lead  on,  I  go  with  you !" 

Thus,  dear  father,  was  Jesus  borne  away  by  a 
fierce  multitude,  and  dragged  into  the  city,  fol- 
lowed by  a  shouting  and  insulting  crowd,  who, 
seeing  that,  notwithstanding  his  miraculous 
powers,  they  could  secure  and  hold  him,  mocked 
him  only  the  more,  making  light  of  powers 
which  could  not  prevent  the  capture  of  his  per- 
son. Some  even  reviled  him  on  the  way,  and 
asked  him  to  call  down  the  twelve  legions  of 
angels;  while  others  said  they  were  hungry  and 
thirsty,  and  would  have  him  turn  water  into  wine 
for  them,  and  give  them  bread  by  another  miracle 
of  loaves. 

John,  whose  interest  in,  and  affection  for  Jesus, 
led  him  to  follow  them,  disguised  in  a  Roman 
soldier's  cloak,  heard  all  this ;  but  Jesus  made  no 
answer,  only  walking  quietly  along,  patiently  en- 
during all  they  said  and  did. 

As  they  entered  the  Damascus  gate,  the  Ro- 
man guard,  seeing  the  immense  crowd  and  up- 
roar, stopped  them  to  learn  the  cause  of  the 
commotion. 

"We  have  here  a  traitor  and  conspirator,  O 
Captain  of  the  guard,"  answered  Eli,  the  chief 
priest;  "a  pestilent  fellow,  who  calls  himself 
Christ,  a  king.  We  have,  therefore,  with  this 
band  of  hired  soldiers,  taken  him,  as  he  was  met 
secretly,  with  twelve  of  his  fellow  conspirators, 
plotting  to  overthrow  the  government  of  Caesar, 
and  make  himself  king  of  Judea." 

"Long  live  Caesar!    Long  live  the  emperor!" 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  369 

shouted  the  Roman  soldiers.     "We  have  no  king 
but  Augustus  Imperator!" 

Upon  this,  many  of  the  soldiers  cried,  "Take 
him  before  the  Procurator!  He  will  give  him 
his  deserts,  who  would  take  his  Procuratorship 
from  him!  To  Pilate!  To  Pilate!" 

"To  Annas!"  shouted  the  Jews.  "First,  to 
Annas !" 

Then,  with  some  shouting  one  thing,  and 
others  another  thing,  and  with  vast  numbers  of 
those  who  had  come  up  to  the  Passover  pressing 
to  get  sight  of  the  Prophet,  he  was  hurried 
towards  the  house  of  Annas,  who  is  the  most 
popular  man  among  our  people,  and  whose  in- 
fluence over  them  is  unbounded.  On  reaching, 
with  great  uproar  of  voices,  and  by  the  light  of 
torches,  the  dwelling  of  the  High  Priest's  son-in- 
law,  they  called  him  to  the  roof  of  the  house,  to 
which  he  came  in  his  night  apparel ;  for  it  was  by 
this  time  near  the  hour  of  midnight. 

When  Annas'knew  that  the  prisoner  was  Jesus, 
he  uttered  a  fearful  oath  of  joy  and  wicked  satis- 
faction, and  coming  down  into  the  court,  bade 
them  bring  the  prisoner  in.  The  calm  majesty 
of  Jesus  abashed  him,  and  checked  the  course  of 
insulting  questions  he  began  to  put  to  him.  At 
length,  finding  that  the  Prophet  would  make  him 
no  reply,  he  caused  him  to  be  bound  still  more 
closely,  and  sent  him  to  Caiaphas  the  High 
Priest,  saying  to  him: 

"Caiaphas  will  find  voice  for  thy  tongue,  O 
Prophet!  So,  thou  wouldst  destroy  the  Temple, 
and  calles-t  thyself  the  Lord  Jehovah!  Out,  blas- 
phemer! Away  with  him,  or  the  house  will  be 


370          THE  PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

swallowed  up  with  the  presence  of  one  so  im- 
pious. Away  with  the  blasphemer!  Pilate  will 
make  thee  king  in  truth,  and  give  thee  a  Roman 
throne,  to  which,  so  that  thou  mayest  not  pres- 
ently fall  from  it,  he  will  nail  thee,  foot  and 
hand!" 

At  this  the  crowd  shouted  their  approbation, 
and  many  cried: 

"To  the  cross!  to  the  cross  with  him!" 

But  others  said:  "Nay,  but  to  Caiaphas!" 
While  the  Roman  soldiers  asserted  that  he 
should  be  taken  before  Pilate. 

With  renewed  uproar,  they  tumultuously 
pressed  forward,  their  way  lighted  by  the  red 
glare  of  a  hundred  torches.  John  followed,  but 
being  recognized  as  one  of  his  disciples,  by  a 
soldier  in  ^imilius's  legion,  he  was  seized,  and 
only  escaped  by  leaving  his  cloak  in  the  hands  of 
the  rude  Roman;  for  such  was  the  prevalent 
hatred  to  Jesus,  that  they  called  for  his  followers, 
and  would  have  taken  them  also  had  it  been  in 
their  power.  Five  of  the  disciples,  who  have  es- 
caped arrest,  are  now  in  this  house,  whither  John 
fled  on  eluding  the  grasp  of  the  soldier.  We  are 
all  sad  and  anxious.  To  move  in  favor  of  Jesus 
is  only  to  share  his  fate,  and  do  him  no  service; 
besides,  I  am  pained  to  say,  two  or  three  of  his 
disciples  begin  to  doubt  whether  he  is  Messias, 
since,  instead  of  establishing  his  promised  king- 
dom, he  is  now  a  prisoner,  and  menaced  with 
death. 

Yet,  through  all,  dear  father,  I  trust  in  him, 
and  hope.  I  cannot  doubt  his  truth  and  power. 
I  have  seen  him  bring  Lazarus  from  the  grave, 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVI1>.  371 

and  I  will  not  believe  but  that  He  can  save  him- 
self, and  will  save  himself,  from  their  hands.  It  is 
only  when  I  shall  behold  him  really  no  more — see 
him  really  dead,  that  my  faith  in  his  divine  mis- 
sion will  waver.  If  he  should  be  slain,  then, 
alas!  not  only  will  perish  forever  all  my  hopes, 
and  those  of  his  trembling,  weeping  disciples,  but 
the  hopes  ot  the  restoration  and  glory  of  Judah ; 
for  verily  we  have  believed  that  it  is  He  which 
should  have  redeemed  Israel!  With  eyes 
blinded  with  tears,  I  can  scarcely  subscribe 
myself, 

.Your  sad,  but  loving  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER    XXX. 

My  Dear  Father : — I  know  not  how  to  write — 
I  know  not  what  to  say.  Dismay  and  sorrow  fill 
my  heart.  I  feel  as  if  life  were  a  burden  too 
heavy  to  bear.  Disappointment  and  regrets  are 
all  that  remain  to  me.  He,  in  whom  I  trusted — 
He,  whom  thousands  in  Judah  had  begun  to  look 
upon  as  the  hope  of  the  nation — He  who,  as  his 
now  wretched  disciples  trusted,  would  have  re- 
deemed Israel — Jesus,  has  been  delivered,  this 
morning,  by  the  Roman  Procurator,  to  be  con- 
demned to  death,  and  they  have  crucified  him! 
Tears  of  grief  unutterable  fall  upon  the  parch- 
ment as  I  write,  and,  more  eloquently  than  any 
words,  tell  you  how  I  am  smitten  by  this  heavy, 
heavy  blow!  Jesus— the  noble,  mild,  courteous, 
and  wise  Prophet,  who  taught  with  such  grace 
and  wisdom,  and  whom  we  believed  to  be  sent 
from  God  to  be  the  Saviour  of  our  people,  and  the 
Prince  who  should  sit  on  the  throne  of  David,  to 
restore  the  former  splendor  of  our  nation — is 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID,          373 

(lead!  With  him  have  perished  all  our  hopes! 
When  he  bowed  his  bleeding  head  on  the  cross, 
the  necks  of  weeping  Judah  bent  once  more  to 
the  dust,  to  receive  the  yoke  of  Rome,  from 
which  they  believed  he  would  have  delivered 
them.  With  him  has  been  quenched  the  rising 
light  of  the  sun  of  the  Messias,  who  we  hoped 
and  believed  that  he  was.  But  we  hope  no  more! 
The  daughters  of  Israel  may  now  sit  in  the  dust, 
and  cover  themselves  with  veils  of  woe;  for  he  in 
whom  they  trusted  is  dead!  Confounded  and 
dismayed,  his  followers  wander  in  the  fields,  or 
hide  themselves  from  the  multitude  who  seek 
their  lives  also.  Alas!  I  cannot  refrain  from 
weeping  bitter,  bitter  tears.  How  hath  the  Lord 
covered  the  daughters  of  Zion  with  a  cloud  in  his 
anger,  and  cast  down  from  Heaven  unto  eartli 
the  beauty  of  Israel.  "All  they  that  pass  by,"  as 
saith  the  Prophet,  "will  clap  their  hands  at  us, 
who  trusted  in  him,  and  wag  their  heads  at  the 
daughters  of  Jerusalem:  Is  this  the  man — the 
mighty  Prophet,  whom  men  called  the  Son  of  the 
Highest,  the  Messias  of  God — the  Prince  of 
David — the  excellency  of  wisdom  and  the  joy  of 
the  earth?  The  punishment  of  thine  iniquity  is 
accomplished,  O  Daughter  of  Zion!" 

Thus  do  I  weep,  and  thus  do  I  complain;  for 
verily  fear  and  a  snare  is  come  upon  us,  desola- 
tion and  destruction,  O  my  father!  We  know 
not  which  way  to  turn!  He  in  whom  we  trusted 
has  proved  as  one  of  us,  weak  and  impotent,  and 
has  suffered  death  without  power  to  save  himself. 
He  that  saved  others  could  not  escape  the  death 
of  the  Roman  cross!  While  I  write,  I  hear  the 


874          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

priest  Abner,  in  the  court  below,  mocking  my 
Uncle  Amos  in  a  loud  voice: 

"Your  Messias  is  dead!  A  famous  great 
prophet,  surely,  you  Nazarenes  have  chosen — • 
born  in  a  stable,  and  crucified  as  a  thief!  Said 
I  not  that  he  who  could  speak  against  the  Temple 
and  the  priesthood  was  of  the  devil?" 

Rabbi  Amos  makes  no  reply.  Shame  and 
despair  seal  his  lips.  Thus  our  enemies  triumph 
over  us,  and  we  answer  only  with  confusion  of 
face.  Even  the  disciples  are  outlawed,  and  a  re- 
ward offered  by  Caiaphas  for  their  arrest ;  and  all 
those  who,  two  days  ago,  were  so  full  of  hope, 
and  proud  to  sit  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  and  to  follow 
him  whithersoever  he  went,  now  fear  to  confess 
that  they  have  ever  known  or  seen  him.  It  is 
only  the  high  rank,  as  a  priest,  of  my  Uncle 
Amos,  which  protects  him  or  his  household  from 
arrest. 

But,  my  dear  father,  to  whom  I  have  ever  con- 
fided all  my  feelings  and  thoughts,  shall  we  pro- 
nounce Jesus  an  impostor!  Oh,  can  he  whose 
very  countenance  was  stamped  with  celestial  dig- 
nity, whose  lips  dispensed  truths  such  as  the 
wisest  philosophers  and  holiest  prophets 
have  loved  to  study  and  teach;  whose 
vhole  life  has  been  blameless,  and  who 
has  lived  only  to  do  good — can  he  be,  must 
he  be  pronounced  a  deceiver?  When  I  re- 
call the  sick  he  has  cured,  the  indigent  he  has  re- 
lieved, the  mourners  he  has  comforted,  the  igno- 
rance he  has  enlightened,  the  dead  he  has  up- 
raised, the  sublime  truths  he  has  taught,  his  lore 
of  God,  his  respect  for  the  worship  of  the  Temple, 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  875 

the  perfect  morality  of  his  daily  life,  the  sincerity 
of  all  he  said,  and  the  universal  sympathy  which 
seemed  to  fill  his  bosom  for  all  who  were  in  sor- 
row— I  cannot,  oh,  I  cannot  bring  my  pen  to 
write  the  word  "impostor,"  in  association  with 
his  name.  But  what  shall  I  substitute?  Alas!  I 
feel  desolate  and  miserable,  like  those  who,  con- 
fiding all  their  heart's  treasures  to  another's 
keeping,  whom  they  believed  good  and  true,  find 
that  he  was  unworthy  of  confidence  and  betrays 
their  trust.  Jesus  asserted  that  he  came  on  earth 
to  establish  a  kingdom,  and  sit  on  the  throne  of 
David;  and  that  all  nations  would  receive  their 
laws  from  Jerusalem.  Where,  now,  is  his  power? 
Where  his  throne?  Where  his  laws?  His  power 
is  ended  in  death!  His  throne  is  the  Roman 
cross,  placed  between  thieves;  and  the  Roman 
laws,  or  rather  power,  which  he  was  to  destroy, 
have  condemned  himself  to  death! 

This  unexpected,  this  unlooked-for,  startling 
result  has  stupefied  me!  And  not  only  me,  but 
all  who  have  been  so  led  by  fascination  to  trust 
in  him.  Even  John,  the  beloved  disciple,  I  hear 
now  pacing  the  floor  of  the  adjoining  room,  sob- 
bing as  if  his  noble  heart  would  burst!  Mary, 
my  cousin's  sweet  voice,  I  catch,  from  time  to 
time,  trying  to  soothe  him,  although  she  is 
stricken,  like  us  all,  to  the  very  earth;  for  she 
trusted  in  Jesus,  if  possible,  with  more  faith  than 
I  did;  and  hence  her  dismay  at  his  death,  at  the 
sudden  termination  of  all  her  hopes  in  him,  and 
of  his  restoration  of  Israel  is  in  proportion.  We 
have  wept  to-night  in  each  other's  arms,  till  we 
had  no  more  tears  to  she4;  and  I  have  left  her  to 


376  THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE    OF   DAVID. 

pour  out  my  griefs  to  you.     The  unhappy  John 
despairingly  answers  her: 

"Do  not  try  to  comfort  me,  Mary!  There  is  no 
ground  for  hope  more!  He  is  dead — dead — • 
dead!  All  is  lost!  We  who  trusted  in  him  have 
only  to  fly,  if  we  would  save  our  wretched  lives, 
into  Galilee,  and  return  once  more  to  our  nets! 
The  sun  which  shone  so  dazzlingly  has  proved  a 
phantom  light,  and  gone  out  in  darkness.  He 
whom  I  could  not  but  love,  I  see  that  I  loved  too 
well,  since  he  was  not  what  I  believed  him  to  be. 
Oh,  how  could  he  be  so  like  the  Son  of  God,  and 
yet  not  be?  Yet  I  loved  him  as  if  he  were  the 
very  Son  of  the  Highest!  But  I  have  seen  him 
die  like  a  man — I  have  gazed  on  his  lifeless  body! 
I  have  beheld  the  deep  wound  made  in  his  very 
heart  by  the  Roman  spear!  I  cast  myself  upon 
him,  and  implored  him,  by  his  love  for  me,  to 
give  some  sign  that  he  was  not  holden  by  death ! 
I  placed  my  trembling  hands  over  his  heart.  It 
was  still,  still — motionless  as  stone,  like  any  other 
dead  man's!  The  flesh  of  his  corpse  was  cold 
and  clammy!  He  was  dead — dead!  With  him 
die  all  our  hopes — the  hopes  of  Israel!" 

"He  may  live  again,"  said  Mary,  softly,  and 
hesitatingly,  as  if  she,  herself,  had  no  such  hope. 
"He  raised  Lazarus,  thou  dost  remember!" 

"Yes,  for  Jesus  was  living  to  do  it!"  answered 
John,  stopping  in  his  walk;  "but  how  can  the 
dead  raise  the  dead!  No,  he  will  never  move, 
speak,  nor  breathe  again." 

Thus,  dear  father,  are  we  left  to  mourn  with 
shame  at  our  delusion,  and  with  utterly  wrecked 
hopes.  I  candidly  acknowledge  that  I  have  been 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  877 

too  hasty  to  confess  Jesus  as  Messias  of  God ;  but, 
oh,  what  could  I  do  but  believe  in  one  who 
seemed  so  like  an  angel  from  heaven — a  celestial 
Prince!  There  is  a  dreadful  and  deep  mystery  in 
it  all.  To  the  last  we  believed  he  would  free 
himself,  and  escape  death!  For  our  sins  God 
has  suffered  this  great  disappointment  to  come 
upon  us  all. 

I  try  to  seek  some  consolation  in  recalling  all 
that  he  was,  good  and  holy;  but  this  retrospect 
only  darkens  the  cloud  of  the  present;  for  I  irres- 
istibly argue:  How  could  he,  who  was  so  good, 
prove  so  great  a  deceiver?  I  live  and  breathe, 
while  he,  who  taught  me  that  he  had  life  in  him- 
self, and  who  I  believed  could  raise  me  from  the 
dead,  if  I  died,  he  is  now  dead  and  laid  in  the 
tomb;  and  yet  I  Live!  He,  over  whom,  we 
fondly  believed,  Death  could  have  no  power, 
since  the  doors  of  sepulchres  opened  at  his  voice, 
and  let  forth  their  re-living  tenants,  he  has  been 
conquered  by  death,  and  proved  himself  only  the 
mortal  son  of  Joseph,  and  the  widowed  Mary. 
She  is  inconsolable.  Her  distress  is  heartrend- 
ing to  witness.  Not  only  has  she  lost  her  only 
son,  about  whom  all  her  maternal  sympathies 
were  entwined,  as  the  vine  encircles  the  lofty 
palm,  but  she  is  humiliated  in  the  very  ashes  of 
shame,  that  he  has  died,  leaving  the  thousands 
who  trusted  to  his  word,  fugitives  for  his  name's 
sake,  and  disappointed  in  all  they  expected  from 
him.  Even  now  I  hear  her  heavy  sighs,  from  the 
couch  where  she  lies,  broken-hearted,  in  my 
aunt's  chamber,  to  which  John  led  her,  after  the 
execution  of  Jesus,  at  his  request.  She  asks  to 


878  THE   PRIXCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

be  left  alone,  and  I  forget  my  own  sorrows  when 
I  think  upon  hers,  which  are  greater  than  she  can 
bear;  for,  all  at  once,  her  son  has  been  hurled 
from  the  position  in  which  he  drew  all  eyes  up 
after  him,  and  has  died  an  ignominious  death, 
leaving  behind  him  the  stigma  of  an  impostor's 
fame.  This  pierces  her  heart  more  keenly,  than 
that  she  has  been  made  childless.  "Oh,"  I 
heard  her  say  to  Rabbi  Amos,  when  she  came 
into  the  house,  "oh,  that  he  could  have  deceived 
me  thus — he  whom  I  believed  to  be  the  soul  of 
truth.  Alas!  my  son — my  son — better  hadst 
thou  remained  in  thy  humble  shop,  leading  a 
lowly  and  useful  life,  than,  for  the  temporary 
popularity  of  a  Prophet's  name,  have  held  out 
hopes  and  promises  to  thy  followers,  that  thou 
couldst  never  realize,  and  meet  with  such  a  death ! 
This  has  made  my  heart  bleed  indeed!  My  gray 
hairs  will  go  down  to  the  grave  with  shame,  that 
I  am  the  mother  of  him  who  has  deceived  Israel." 
But  I  will  not  dwell  on  this  universal  sorrow — 
sorrow  mingled  with  mortification — for  the  pride 
of  all  has  been  humbled  to  the  dust.  I  will  give 
you  a  description,  dear  father,  of  what  occurred 
after  the  arrest;  for  I  wish  you  to  be  acquainted 
with  every  particular  respecting  him,  that  you 
may  see  how  perfectly  he  sustained  the  lofty 
character,  which  drew  all  men  after  him,  to  the 
last — standing  before  his  judges,  like  a  man  sub- 
lime in  the  consciousness  of  innocence,  and  com- 
manding even  the  involuntary  respect  and  admi- 
ration of  his  foes.  Oh,  how  could  he  have  been 
a  deceiver?  Yet  he  is  dead,  and  in  that  he  is 
dead,  be  has  failed  in  all  the  glorious  things 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  379 

which  he  promised  concerning  himself.  "His 
death,"  says  his  disciple  Peter,  who  was  here  to- 
night, to  ask  John  what  should  now  be  done  by 
them,  "his  death  is  his  infamy!" 

But  I  will  not  further  delay  the  account  of  his 
trial  and  condemnation;  for  you  will  be  earnest 
to  know  how  such  a  man  could  so  fall  as  to  be 
condemned  to  a  malefactor's  death!  In  my  last 
letter  I  spoke  of  his  arrest — through  the  traitor- 
ous part  enacted  by  Judas.  Led  by  his  captors, 
bound  by  the  wrists  with  a  cord,  he  was  taken 
from  the  dark  groves  of  Olivet,  wherein  he  had 
been  found  at  prayer,  and  conducted  with  great 
noise  into  the  city  by  Caesar's  gate.  It  is  near 
this  archway  that  Rabbi  Amos  lives.  It  was  the 
third  hour  of  the  night,  and  I  had  just  gone  to 
my  room,  which  overlooked  the  street  of  David, 
\vhen  I  was  startled  by  the  suddenly-heard  out- 
cries of  fierce  men,  breaking  the  night's  stillness. 
Then  I  heard  the  quick  challenges  of  the  Roman 
sentinels,  the  galloping  of  several  horsemen,  and 
a  confused  tumult;  the  cries,  in  the  meanwhile,, 
increasing.  But  I  will  copy  for  you  Mary's  ac- 
count of  it  to  Martha,  just  written  by  her,  instead 
of  adding  any  more  to  my  own. 

"I  went  out  upon  the  basilica,  which  over- 
looked the  street,"  says  Mary  to  her  sister,  in  her 
letter,  "and  beheld  a  multitude  advancing,  with 
torches  flashing;  and  soon  they  came  opposite 
the  house,  at  least  two  hundred  men,  half-clad 
and  savage-lookiner,  with  flashing  eyes  and 
scowling  looks.  Here  and  there,  among  them, 
was  a  Levite  urging  them  on,  and  I  also  beheld 
Abner,  the  priest,  firing  their  passions  by  low} 


580  THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE    OF   DAVID. 

oratory  and  eager  gesticulations.  Behind  rode 
five  Roman  horsemen,  with  levelled  spears, 
guarding  a  young  man,  who  walked  in  front  of 
their  horses'  heads.  It  was  Jesus.  His  rich 
auburn  locks  were  dishevelled,  his  beard  torn,  his 
face  marred,  and  his  garments  rent.  He  was 
pale  and  suffering,  but  walked  with  a  firm  step. 
I  burst  into  tears,  and  so  did  Adina,  who  had 
come  out  to  see  what  was  passing.  He  looked 
up,  and  said,  touchingly,  'Weep  not  for  me, 
daughters  of  Jerusalem,  but  weep  for  yourselves.' 

"He  would  have  said  more,  but  the  priest 
smote  him  rudely  upon  the  mouth;  and  the 
crowd,  following  his  example,  would  have  done 
him  further  insult,  but  for  the  Roman  soldiers, 
who  turned  their  spears  every  way,  to  guard  him 
from  violence;  for  they  had  rescued  him  from 
the  terrible  rage  of  the  Jews,  by  their  centurion's 
orders,  and  were  commanded  to  bring  him  safely 
before  Pilate.  So,  thus  guarded  and  escorted, 
by  the  men  who  thirsted  for  his  blood,  he  was  led 
onward  to  the  Pretorium,  where  the  Roman  Pro- 
curator resided.  Gradually,  the  whole  multi- 
tude, horsemen,  Jews,  priests,  torch-bearers,  and 
captive,  disappeared  in  the  distance;  and  silence, 
a  dread  and  unearthly  silence,  succeeded.  I 
turned  and  looked  in  Adina's  face.  She  was 
leaning,  colorless  as  marble,  against  one  of  the 
columns  of  the  basilica. 

"  *What  can  all  this  mean?'  she  said,  with  emo- 
tion. 'Can  it  be  possible  he  has  suffered  himself 
to  be  taken — He  who  could  destroy  or  make 
alive  with  a  word?  What  means  this  dreadful 
scene  we  have  just  witnessed?' 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  381 

"*I  could  not  answer.  It  was  inexplicable,  in- 
comprehensible to  me.  All  I  knew  was  what  my 
eyes  just  beheld,  that  Jesus,  our  Prophet,  our 
King,  our  Messias,  on  whom  all  our  hopes  and 
the  joy  of  Israel  rested,  was  dragged,  a  prisoner, 
through  the  streets,  helpless  and  without  a 
helper.  I  trembled  with,  I  knew  not  what,  un- 
known forebodings.  Suddenly  Adina  cried: 

"'He  cannot  be  harmed!  He  cannot  die! 
He  is  a  mighty  Prophet,  and  has  power  that  will 
strike  his  enemies  dead!  Let  us  not  fear.  He 
has  yielded  himself,  only  the  more  terribly  to  de- 
feat and  destroy  his  foes.  We  will  not  fear  what 
Pilate  or  the  priests  will  do !  They  cannot  harm 
the  anointed  Shiloh  of  the  Lord!' 

"While  we  were  yet  talking,  dearest  Martha,  a 
dark  figure  passed  steathily  along  beneath  the 
basilica,  and  seemed  to  court  the  shadows  of  the 
house.  At  this  moment,  my  father,  Rabbi 
Amos,  opened  the  outer  gate,  with  a  torch  in  his 
hand,  to  follow,  at  our  request,  the  crowd  of  peo- 
ple, and  see  what  should  befall  Jesus.  The  light 
glared  full  upon  the  tall,  spare  form  of  Peter,  the 
Galilee  fisherman.  •  His  dark,  stern  features 
wore  an  expression  of  earnest  anxiety.  In  his 
hand  he  carried  a  naked  sword,  on  which  were 
visible  dropss  of  blood. 

"'Is  it  thou,  Peter!'  exclaimed  my  father. 
'What  is  this?  Who  has  ordered  the  arrest  of 
Jesus?  What  has  he  done?' 

'  That  hateful  and  envious  man,  Caiaphas, 
seeks  to  destroy  him,  and  has  bribed,  with  large 
lures  of  gold,  the  baser  Jews  to  do  this  thing. 
Come  with  me,  Rabbi,  and  let  us  die  with  him!* 


882          THE   PKINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVn>.A, 

and  the  Galilean  pressed  eagerly  forward  at  a 
pace  with  which  my  father  could  not  keep  up. 

"And  this  was  an  hour  ago,  and  yet  no  news 
has  come  from  the  Pretorium;  but,  from  time  to 
time,  a  dreadful  shout  from  the  hill,  on  which 
the  palace  of  Caiaphas  stands,  breaks  upon  my 
ears;  and  the  glare  of  unseen  torches  illumines 
the  atmosphere  high  above  the  towers  of  the 
palace.  It  is  a  fearful  night  of  agony  and  sus- 
pense. Adina  in  her  painful  uncertainty,  but  for 
my  entreaties,  would  go  forth  alone  towards  the 
Pretorium,  to  hear  and  know  all.  I  can  keep 
myself  calm  only  by  writing  to  you.  Adina  has 
also  commenced  a  letter  to  her  father,  recording 
these  sad  things,  but  she  drops  her  pen,  to  start 
to  the  balcony  at  every  sound.  When  will  this 
fearful  night  end!  What  will  the  morrow  re- 
veal! Adina  is  confident  nothing  can  befall  the 
holy  Prophet,  for  he  who  could  raise  your 
brother  Lazarus  from  the  dead  cannot  fear  death. 
Besides,  has  he  not  promised  that  he  has  come 
from  God,  to  be  king  of  Israel?  If  he  enters  the 
Pretorium  a  bound  captive  to-night,  it  will  be  to 
sit  upon  the  Roman  throne  within  it  to-morrow, 
| \vith  Pilate  in  chains  at  his  feet!  I  write  this,  to 
send  to  you  by  Elec  at  dawn,  that  you  and  Laza- 
rus may  hasten  to  come  into  the  city  to  us.  .  .  . 

"It  is  an  hour  since  I  wrote  the  last  line.  The 
interval  has  been  one  of  agony.  Rumors  have 
reachtd  us  that  the  priests  insist  on  Pilate's  pass- 
ing sentence  of  death  on  the  Prophet.  The 
cries,  'Crucify  him!  crucify  him!'  have  distinctly 
reached  our  ears.  John  is  now  here.  About 
half  an  hour  after  Jesus  passed  he  reached  the 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  383 

house,  nearly  destitute  of  apparel,  his  clothing 
having  been  torn  off  from  him  by  the  Jews,  in 
their  efforts  to  make  him  prisoner  also.  He  is 
calm  and  confiding,  saying  that  his  beloved 
Master  can  never  be  injured  by  them;  and  that 
he  will,  ere  many  hours,  deliver  himself  from  his 
foes,  and  proclaim  himself  king  of  Israel,  with 
power  such  as  man  never  had  before!  May  the 
God  of  Jacob  defend  him!  John  has  just  gone 
up  to  the  Temple,  to  get  news,  in  disguise  of  a~ 
priest,  wearing  my  father's  robes.  I  tremble  lest 
he  be  discovered,  and  taken;  for  the  Jews  are  as 
bitter  against  the  followers  as  against  their 

Master. 

****** 

"I  have  just  seen  a  messenger,  passing  in  great 
haste  along  the  street ;  and  his  horse  falling,  cast 
him  almost  upon  our  threshold.  It  was  the  page 
of  ^milius,  the  noble  Roman  knight  who  is  be- 
trothed to  my  cousin  Adina.  She  hastened  to 
my  aid.  Pie  was  but  stunned,  and  soon  was  able 
to  say,  that  he  bore  a  message  from  Lucia  Me- 
tella,  the  fair  and  youthful  bride  of  Pilate,  urging 
him  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  Prophet,  but 
give  him  his  liberty;  for  she  had  just  awaked 
from  an  impressive  dream,  in  which  she  saw  him 
sitting  on  the  Throne  of  the  Universe,  crowned 
with  the  stars  of  heaven,  the  earth  the  footstool 
beneath  his  feet,  and  all  nations  assembled,  and 
doing  him  homage,  while  the  gods  and  goddesses 
of  high  Olympus  cast  their  glittering  crowns 
and  sceptres  at  his  feet,  and  hailed  him  God! 

"Such  was  the  account  given  by  the  page  to 
Adina;  and  remounting  his  horse,  he  has  con* 


884          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVIW 

tinued  rapidly  on  his  way  towards  the  Pretorium. 
This  report  of  the  page  has  filled  our  hearts  with 
joy  and  hope  inexpressible.  Confident  that 
Jesus  is  the  son  of  God,  we  will  not  fear  what 
man  can  do  unto  him. 

"It  is  now  three  hours  past  midnight,  and  the 
dawn  is  chilly  and  cold,  so  that  I  cannot  longer 
hold  my  pen.  I  shall  send  this  as  soon  as  the 
city  gates  are  opened.  Come  at  once  to  our 
comfort;  for  this  is  no  time  for  the  friends  of 
Jesus  to  be  out  of  Jerusalem. 

"My  father  has  returned.  It  is  day.  He  says 
nothing  can  save  Jesus  but  his  own  divine  power. 
The  Jews  are  in  number  many  thousands,  and 
cry  for  his  blood.  Pilate  has  but  a  cohort  of 
soldiers,  and  fears  to  use  force,  lest  the  exasper- 
ated people  break  into  open  revolt,  and  take  the 
city  from  his  hands,  which  they  can  do  if  they 
will  unite.  'He  trembles/  said  my  father,  'be- 
tween fear  to  condemn  the  innocent,  and  fear  of 
the  vengeance  of  the  Jews,  if  he  let  him  go. 
Nothing  can  save  the  Prophet  but  his  own 
mighty  miracle-working  power.  He  who  has 
saved  others,  will  surely  save  himself.' 

"While  my  father  was  speaking,  a  man  rushed 
•into  our  presence.  He  was  low  in  stature,  broad 
chested,  with  a  stiff,  reddish  beard,  narrow  eyes, 
and  sharp,  unpleasant  visage.  His  attire  was 
ragged  and  mean,  as  was  his  whole  aspect.  He 
grasped  in  his  right  hand  a  small  bag,  which 
rung  like  coin,  as  his  shaking  hand  held  it.  He 
trembled  all  over,  and  seizing  my  father  by  the 
arm  with  the  quick,  nervous  grasp  of  a  lunatic, 
cried  hoarsely: 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  385- 

"  'Will  he  let  them!  will  he!  will  he?' 

"'Will  he  what,  Judas?  Of  whom  do  you 
speak?  Art  thou  crazed?  Thou  shouldst  well 
be,  after  thy  deed  to-night.' 

"  'Will  he  let  them  kill  him?  Will  he  die?  will 
he  die?  Think  you  he  will  not  escape?  He  can 
if  he  will!  Cords,  to  him,  are  ropes  of  sand!' 

"  'No,  no — he  is  bound  hand  and  foot/  an- 
swered my  father,  sadly.  'He  makes  no  defence ! 
I  fear  he  will  let  them  do  as  they  will  with  him. 
He  makes  no  effort  to  save  his  life.' 

"At  this,  Judas,  for  it  was  that  wicked  man, 
beat  his  knotted  forehead,  in  a  frenzied  manner, 
with  a  bag  of  silver,  and,  with  a  look  of  horrible 
despair,  rushing  forth,  he  cried  as  he  went: 

"'I  will  save  him!  The  priests  shall  have 
their  money  again.  He  shall  not  die!  If  I  had 
believed  he  would  not  do  some  miracle  to  escape 
them,  I  never  would  have  sold  him.  I  hoped  to 
get  their  money,  and  trusted,  if  they  took  him, 
for  him  to  escape  by  his  power.  I  did  not  dream 
that  he  would  not  exert  it  to  save  himself.  I  will 
save  thee,  innocent  man  of  God,  for  I,  not  thou, 
alone  am  guilty!  Oh,  if  I  had  suspected  this — 
but  he  shall  not  die!' 

"With  these  ravings  he  disappeared  towards 
the  Pretorium,  leaving  us  all  amazed  at  what  we 
had  heard. 

( 'Yes/  said  my  father,  'I  see  it  now.  Judas 
hoped  to  secure  the  money  and  cheat  the  chief 
priests,  trusting  to  his  divine  power  to  get  away 
out  of  their  hands.  See  the  force  of  conscience! 
He  is  now  beside  himself,  with  horror  and  re- 


386          THE   PRINCE   OP  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

morse;  for  lie  knows  that  he  whom  he  has  be- 
trayed is  a  man  of  God,  without  sin  or  guile!' 


*          * 


"The  sun  is  up.  The  fate  of  Jesus  is  sealed! 
The  Procurator  has  signed  the  sentence  of  death, 
and  he  is  to  be  crucified  to-day!  But  with 
Judas,  I  believe  that  he  cannot  die,  and  that  he 
•will  signalize  the  hour  by  some  wonderful 
miracle  of  personal  deliverance.  Thus,  trem- 
blingly, we  hope  and  wait." 

Here  terminates,  my  dear  father,  what  my 
-cousin  has  written  to  Martha  and  Lazarus,  and, 
as  it  is  very  minute,  please  to  receive  it  as  if 
written  by  myself;  for,  during  the  night,  I  was 
too  greatly  unnerved  to  write  with  the  composure 
she  had  done.  But  now,  that  all  is  over — now, 
that  Jesus  lies  dead  in  the  tomb  and  forever  at 
rest  I  have  been  able  to  resume  my  pen. 

In  my  next  I  will  give  you  an  account  of  his 
trial,  as  it  was  related  to  me  by  my  Uncle  Amos, 
and  by  John,  one  of  whom  was  present  to  the 
last.  This  evening  I  am  going  to  see  the  sepul- 
chre, where  they  have  laid  him ;  for,  although  he 
has  in  his  death  so  sorely  crushed  all  our  hopes 
in  him,  and  proved  that  he  was  not  what  he  pro- 
fessed to  be,  yet  my  heart  and  affections  hover 
about  his  memory,  and  irresistibly  draw  my  foot- 
steps towards  his  last  resting-place.  Though  we 
are  deceived,  I  cannot  hate  his  memory.  Oh 
no!  I  cannot — I  dare  not  trust  mvself  to  say  all 
that  I  feel.  I  only  wish  I  could  forget  him  for 
evermore,  and  regret  that  I  have  ever  tried  to 
convince  yon  that  he  was  the  Shiloh  of  the 
Prophets.  Yet  never  man  spake  like  this  man, 


THE  PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  387 

my  dear  father!  and  if  Shiloh  in  truth  come,  he 
can  do  no  greater  works  than  he  has  done.  In 
all  things  he  was  the  Son  of  God  but  in  his  death! 
This  event  dashes  all  our  hopes  and  our  faith  in 
him  forever. 

iTour  sorrowing,  but  loving  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER  XXXI. 

Dearest  Father: — I  have  only  terminated  my 
last  letter,  to  take  up  my  pen  for  the  beginning  of 
another;  for  I  find  relief,  only  in  writing  to  you, 
from  the  deep  affliction  which  has  struck  me  to 
the  earth.  If  anything  can  add  to  my  mortifica- 
tion at  the  death  of  tke  Nazarene,  Jesus,  it  is  that 
I  should  have  endeavored  so  earnestly  to  make 
you  believe  in  him  also.  Forgive  me,  my  dear 
father;  your  wisdom,  your  knowledge  of  the 
Prophets,  your  judgment,  were  far  above  my 
own.  But  who  could  have  believed  that  he  was 
less  than  he  claimed  to  be — the  very  Son  and 
Messias  of  God.  Oh!  I  shall  never  have  confi- 
dence in  a  human  being  again;  and  the  more 
lovely,  the  more  holy,  the  more  heavenly  the 
character  of  anyone,  the  wiser  and  purer  their 
teachings,  the  more  distrustful  shall  I  be  of  them. 
In  the  grave  with  Jesus  is  buried,  henceforth  and 
forever,  all  trust  in  human  virtue — even  when  ac- 
companied by  amazing  miracles.  I  perceive  that 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  389 

a  man  may  teach  divine  truths,  nay,  wear  upon 
his  lineaments  the  very  impress  of  an  angel,  may 
heal  the  sick  by  a  touch,  walk  the  sea,  raise  the 
dead,  and  cast  out  devils,  and  yet  prove  in  the 
end  a  deceiver.  Alas  for  human  truth!  Alas 
for  poor  Israel!  which  has  thus  been  blinded! 
They  have  beheld  their  idolized  Shiloh  nailed  to 
a  Gentile  cross,  without  power  in  himself  to  pre- 
vent this  ignominy. 

But  I  will  turn  from  these  painful  thoughts, 
and,  as  I  promised  in  my  last,  will  give  you  an 
account  of  what  passed  at  his  trial,  as  you  will  be 
desirous  of  knowing  on  what  accusation  his  con- 
demnation was  founded. 

It  is  now  the  morning  following  his  cruci- 
fixion, and  I  am  calmer  than'1  was  yesterday, 
and  will  be  able  to  write  with  more  coherency. 
Twenty-four  hours  have  passed  since  he  was 
nailed  to  the  cross.  His  followers  have  been 
since  hunted  like  wild  beasts  of  the  wilderness. 
Annas  has  hired,  and  filled  with  wine,  fierce 
Roman  soldiers,  and  sent  them  everywhere  to 
seize  the  fugitive  Nazarenes.  John  was  espe- 
cially sought  out,  and  the  emissaries  of  Annas 
came  at  midnight,  last  night,  to  the  house  to  take 
him;  but  we  assisted  him  in  making  his  escape, 
by  means  of  the  subterraneous  passage,  that 
leads  from  the  dwelling  of  Rabbi  Amos  into  the 
catcombs  beneath  the  Temple.  Mary  of  Naza- 
reth, the  mother  of  Jesus,  accompanied  him,  and 
they  got  safely  out  of  the  city,  and  are  now  at 
Bethany  with  Martha, — whence  they  will  go 
to  John's  new  home,  near  Gennesaret.  Even 
Lazarus,  whom  Jesus  raised,  has  been  made  pri.s« 


390          TLuS  FSraCE   OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

oner,  but  was  released  by  the  influence  of  ./Emr- 
lius,  the  Roman  knight,  who  has  conducted  him 
hither,  where  he  now  is  in  safety;  and  ^Emilius 
has  also  placed  a  guard  about  our  house,  for  fear 
of  further  Jewish  violence.  I  therefore  can  write 
to  you  undisturbed.  /Emilius  is  the  only  one 
•who  has  any  confidence  left,  since  Jesus  died,  in 
liis  promises.  He  says  that  Jesus  plainly  fore- 
told his  death,  and  also  that  if  he  died,  he  would 
rise  again!  Peter,  also,  recollects  Jesus'  saying 
this;  but  Uncle  Amos  has  no  confidence,  and 
says: 

"It  is  easy  for  any  man  to  foretell  that  he  will 
die,  and  quite  as  easy  for  him  to  add  that  he  will 
rise  again!  But  let  us  see  Jesus  rise  again,  and 
we  will  believe  in  him  indeed!" 

But  yEmiliug  though  only  recently  a  convert 
from  the  Paganism  of  Rome,  is  firm  in  his  faith, 
that  he  will  rise  again  to  life;  and,  instead  of  giv- 
ing up  all,  as  we  do,  he  says  that  he  should  not 
be  amazed  to  be  suddenly  told  by  the  soldiers, 
whom  he  left  to  guard  his  tomb,  that  he  had 
burst  forth  alive  from  the  dead!  The  confidence 
of  yEmilius  has  almost  inspired  me  with  hope 
again!  But,  my  dear  father,  I  saw  his  cleaved 
side,  the  torrent  of  blood  and  water  flow  forth 
from  the  horrid  wound,  and  saw  his  lifeless  head 
hang  down  upon  his  breast.  If  he  had  not  been 
pierced  through,  I  might  have  hoped  that  he 
could  yet  revive!  But  that  he  was  pierced,  re- 
moves all  hope  that  he  can  be  restored.  He  did 
not  swoon,  and  thus  appear  like  one  dead,  or  we* 
might  trust  to  his  restoration;  but  he  was  slain, 
and  I  saw  him  lie  a  mangled  corpse  at  the  foot 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          891 

of  the  cross,  bleeding  from  five  wounds,  one  of 
which  was  through  and  through  his  heart.  I 
should  rejoice  to  have  the  faith  of  dear  ^milius; 
but  I  tell  him  that  I  have  hitherto  believed  too 
well,  and  that  when  Jesus  expired,  all  faith  in  my 
bosom  expired  with  him. 

But  I  have  forgotten  that  I  am  to  narrate  to 
you,  dear  father,  the  particulars  of  his  accusa- 
tion, trial,  and  condemnation.  As  I  was  not 
present  at  the  Pretorium,  I  am  indebted,  for  the 
details  which  I  shall  give,  in  part  to  John,  and  in 
part  to  Rabbi  Amos,  who  were  both  there  a  por- 
tion of  the  night;  Peter,  and  other  disciples,  as 
well- as  -#Lmilius,  have  given  me  additional  facts. 

As  soon  as  the  mob  of  Jews,  who  had  -Jesus 
under  arrest,  and  which  I  saw  pass  the  housa> 
reached  the  house  of  Rabbi  Annas,  he,  from  his 
window,  asked  them  whom  they  had  in  custody; 
and  when  they  answered  that  it  was  the  "Naza- 
rene  Prophet,"  he  said,  with  great  joy: 

"Bring  him  into  the  lower  court,  that  I  may 
see  him.  By  the  rod  of  Aaron!  I  would  have 
him  do  some  notable  miracle  for  me." 

And  thus  speaking,  the  white-headed  old  man 
hastened  to  the  court,  which,  on  reaching,  he 
found  thronged  with  the  infuriated  multitude, 
mingled  with  the  Roman  soldiers.  It  was  with 
difficulty  he  made  a  passage  to  where  Jesus 
stood,  both  imprisoned  and  defended  by  a  glitter- 
ing lattice  of  Roman  spears.  After  regarding 
him  attentively,  he  said,  with  curiosity,  yet  with 
sarcasm: 

"Art  thou,  then,  the  King  of  the  Jews?  Hast 
thou  come  to  reign  on  the  throne  of  David? 


392          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

Show  me  a  sign  from  heaven,  and  I  will  ac- 
knowledge thee,  O  Nazarene!" 

But  Jesus  stood  calm  and  dignified,  making 
no  answer.  Annas  then  angrily  plucked  him  by 
the  beard,  and  a  messenger  at  the  same  moment 
arrived,  to  say  that  Caiaphas,  the  High  Priest, 
who  had  married  the  beautiful  and  haughty 
Miriam,  the  daughter  of  Annas,  demanded  to 
have  Jesus  brought  before  him.  Upon  this  he 
said,  in  a  loud  voice: 

"Lead  him  to  the  Palace!  Caiaphas,  my  son- 
in-law,  would  see  the  man  who  would  destroy 
the  Temple,  and  re-build  it  in  three  days." 

There  now  arose  a  dreadful  shout  from  the 
priests  and  people  who,  rushing  upon  Jesus,  at- 
tempted to  grasp  his  person;  and  in  protecting 
him,  as  they  had  been  commanded  to  do,  the 
Romans  wounded  several  of  the  Jews.  Here- 
upon there  was  a  great  cry  of, — 

"Down  with  the  Roman  eagles!  Down  with 
the  barbarians!  Death  to  the  Gentiles!" 

These  cries  were  followed  up  by  a  fearful  rush 
of  the  mass  of  men,  upon  the  handful  of  guards. 
They  were  forced  back,  their  spears  broken  like 
straws,  or  turned  aside,  and  Jesus  successfully 
•wrested  from  their  power.  But  in  the  height  of 
the  battle,  TEmilius,  who  had  heard  the  tumult 
•from  the  castle,  appeared  with  a  portion  of  the 
legion,  of  which  he  was  Prefect,  and  instantly 
charging  the  people,  who  fled  before  the  breasts 
of  his  horses,  rescued  the  Prophet,  but  not 
•without  the  sacrifice  of  the  lives  of  three  of  the 
foremost. 

"Rabbi,"  said  yEmilius  to  the  Prophet,  with 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          393 

compassionate  respect,  "I  know  thou  hast  power 
from  God  to  disperse,  as  chaff,  this  rabble  of 
fiends !  Speak,  and  let  them  perish  at  thy  divine 
command!" 

"Nay,  my  son!  I  am  come  into  the  world  for 
this  hour,"  answered  Jesus.  "This,  also,  is  a 
part  of  my  mission  from  my  Father.  It  becomes 
me  to  endure  all  things,  even  death." 

"You  cannot  die,  my  Lord!"  said  ^Emilius, 
warmly.  "Did  I  not  see  thee  raise  Lazarus  from 
the  tomb?" 

"To  die  I  came  into  this  world;  but  not  for 
myself.  I  lay  down  my  life,  and  I  can  take  it 
again.  These  men  could  have  no  power  over 
me,  except  my  Father  did  grant  it  to  them:  and 
what  my  Father  doth,  I  do  also.  Seek  not.  my 
son,  to  deliver  me.  This  day  was  seen  by 
Esaias,  who  wrote  of  me.  I  must  fulfil  the 
Prophets.  There  remains  only  that  I  be  de- 
livered to  judgment  and  to  death !" 

These  words  passed  between  them  beneath  the 
portico,  as  ^Emilius  was  loosing  the  sharp  cords 
from  the  bleeding  wrists  of  the  youthful  Prophet. 

"To  Caiaphas!  to  Caiaphas!"  now  cried  the 
multitude,  who  had  been  for  a  moment  awed  by 
the  bold  charge  of  the  Roman  horse,  but  now 
grew  bolder,  as  some  men  removed  the  dead  and 
wounded  out  of  sight.  "To  the  palace  with  the 
blasphemer!  for  he  who  calls  himself  God  is,  by 
our  law,  to  be  punished  with  death.  To  the 
High  Priest  wlh  him '." 

"I  can  rescuefyou,  Great  Prophet!"  said  ^mil- 
ius,  resolutely.  "Give  me  the  word,  and  you 


394          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

are  mounted  on  my  horse,  and  safe  in  the  castle 
of  David/' 

"The  High  Priest  has  sent  for  me.  He  must 
be  obeyed,"  answered  Jesus;  and  yEmilius,  sur- 
prised at  his  refusal  to  escape,  reluctantly  es- 
corted him  to  the  palace.  The  windows  already 
glared  with  the  torches;  and  the  superb  Hall  of 
Aaron,  within  the  Palace,  was  alight  with  a  hun- 
dred flambeaux.  The  Romans  entered,  guard- 
ing their  prisoner,  and  followed  by  a  tumultuous 
throng,  which,  each  moment,  fearfully  increased 
in  numbers.  Caiaphas  was  already  upon  his 
throne,  although  it  was  the  hour  of  midnight, 
an  unwonted  time  for  him  to  sit  in  the  council- 
chamber;  but  his  desire  to  have  Jesus  brought 
before  him,  of  whose  arrest  in  Olivet  he  had 
been  an  hour  before  apprised  by  one  of  his  emis- 
saries, led  him  to  hold  an  extraordinary  court. 
A  score  of  the  elders  and  chief-priests  were 
standing  about  him,  their  dark,  eager  faces 
earnestly  watching  the  entrance,  to  get  a  look  at 
the  approaching  Prophet.  Among  the  most 
eager  of  all  these  was  Caiaphas  himself,  who  re- 
garded the  eloquent  Nazarene  as  his  rival  in  the 
eyes  of  the  whole  people,  and  had,  therefore, 
long  thirsted  for  his  destruction.  As  Jesus 
serenely  entered,  led  by  the  sorrowful  .^Emilius, 
Caiaphas  bent  his  tall,  gaunt  form  forward, 
thrust  his  neck  and  huge  black  head  in  advance, 
and,  with  keen  eyes,  and  sharp,  scrutinizing 
glances,  surveyed  his  youthful  rival. 

The  multitude,  pressing  in,  soon  filled  all  the 
vast  hall,  and  even  crowded  upon  the  rostrum, 
upon  which  were  seated  the  scribes,  elders,  and 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  895 

many  of  the  principal  priests.  The  Roman  sol- 
diers, with  clanging  steel,  marched  in,  and  ar- 
rayed themselves  on  either  side  of  the  High- 
Priest's  throne,  leaving  Jesus  standing  alone 
before  its  foot-stool.  The  scene  must  have  been 
striking,  and  full  of  painful  interest,  to  the  most 
unconcerned  present.  The  arched  ceiling  of  the 
chamber,  supported  by  seventy  columns  of  por- 
phyry, represented  the  deep  blue  heavens, 
studded  with  glittering  constellations  in  starry 
gold.  The  walls  were  of  jasper,  superbly  col- 
ored, with  precious  stones  inlaid,  representing 
every  variety  of  fruit  and  flower,  in  all  their 
native  tints  and  varied  forms  of  grace  and  beauty. 
The  hundred  flambeaux  reflected  a  thousand 
times  from  the  polished  surfaces  of  the  columns, 
shed  a  magnificent  light  over  all.  The  gorgeous 
robes  of  the  High-Priest,  his  dazzling  tiara  and 
priceless  breast-plate,  refracted  the  radiant 
beams  with  indescribable  prismatic  splendor. 
The  steel  spear-heads  and  polished  cuirasses  of 
the  Roman  guard,  catching  the  light  upon  points 
and  bosses,  gleamed  like  flames  of  fire;  while  the 
silver  crest  of  the  helmet  of  ^Emilius  shone 
among  all  this  glory  like  a  lesser  sun. 

Contrasting  this  brilliancy,  surged,  and 
heaved,  and  moved  below  the  dark  masses  of  the 
people,  in  their  gray  and  brown  caps  and  cloaks, 
for  the  night  was  cold,  and  they  wore  their  winter 
garments;  and  all  this  dark  ocean  of  human 
forms  gleamed  with  ten  thousand  eves,  flashing 
like  the  phosphorescent  stars,  that  glitter  on  the 
surface  of  the  up-heaving  sea,  when  the  shadow 
of  the  storm-cloud  hangs  above  it,  and  the  winds 


396          THE   PRINCE   Of  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

are  about  to  be  unbound,  to  lash  it  into  fury. 
So  seemed  this  terrible  sea  of  human  heads — 
Jesus,  the  centre  of  their  looks  and  of  their  hate, 
the  Pharos  at  whose  feet  these  foaming  billows 
of  passion  broke  with  terrific  power.  He  alone, 
of  all  that  countless  host,  he  alone  was  calm — 
serene — fearless!  Caiaphas  gazed  upon  him,  as 
he  stood  before  his  foot-stool,  betraying  admira- 
tion mingled  with  resentment.  The  scribes  and 
priests  also  gazed  and  talked  together,  with 
looks  of  unusual  interest.  Caiaphas  now  waved 
his  hand,  with  a  gesture  for  silence,  and  ad- 
dressed Jesus: 

"So,  then,"  he  said,  with  haughty  irony,  "thou 
art  Jesus,  the  far-famed  Galilean  Prophet!  Men 
say  thou  canst  raise  the  dead!  We  would  fain 
see  a  miracle.  Thinkest  thou  if  we  put  thee  to 
death  presently,  thou  canst  raise  thyself?" 

'*  'Jesus,'  said  Rabbi  Amos,  who  just  entered, 
and  stood  near,  and  saw  all,  'Jesus  remained  un- 
moved. His  bearing  was  marked  by  a  certain 
divine  dignity,  and  an  expression  of  holy  resig- 
nation sat  upon  his  features.  He  looked  like 
Peace,  incarnate  in  the  form  of  man!  A  soft  in- 
fluence seemed  to  flow  from  his  presence,  anc. 
produce  a  universal,  but  momentary,  emotion  of 
sympathy.  Caiaphas  perceived  it,  and  cried,  in 
his  harsh,  stern  voice: 

"  'You  have  brought  this  man  before  me,  men 
of  Jerusalem!  Of  what  do  ye  accuse  him?' 

"  'He  is  a  malefactor,  or  we  would  not  have 
brought  him,"  responded  a  fierce  voice  from  the 
multitude. 

"'Let  those  who  have  accusations  come  for- 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  397 

ward  and  make  them.     He  is  a  Jew,  and  shall 
have  justice  by  our  laws.' 

"  'Ye  Jews  have  no  power  to  try  a  man  for  his 
life,  most  noble  Caiaphas!'  said  ^Emilius.  'The 
lives  of  all  your  nation  are  in  the  hands  of  Caesar, 
and  of  his  tribunals.  You  can  put  no  man  to 
death!' 

"This  said  ^Emilius,  in  hopes  that  if  Jesus 
could  be  brought  before  Pilate,  the  Roman  Pro- 
curator, he  might  be  by  him  released,  for  he 
knew  Pilate  had  no  envy  or  feeling  against  the 
Prophet. 

'  'Thou  sayest  well,  noble  Roman/  answered 
Caiaphas;  'but  for  crimes  of  blasphemy  against 
the  Temple,  we  are  permitted  by  Csesar  to  judge 
our  people  by  the  laws  of  Moses.  And  this  man, 
if  rumor  conies  nigh  the  truth,  has  been  guilty  of 
blasphemy.  But  we  will  hear  the  witnesses.' 

"Hereupon  several  of  the  chief-priests  and 
scribes,  who  had  been  going  in  and  out  among; 
the  crowd,  brought  forward  certain  men,  whose 
very  aspect  showed  them  to  be  of  the  baser  sort. 
One  of  these  men  testified  that  he  had  heard 
Jesus  say,  that  he  would  destroy  the  Temple,  and 
could  again  in  three  days  rebuild  it  more  mag- 
nificently than  it  was  in  the  days  of  Solomon  the 
Mighty. 

"Upon  this  testimony  all  the  priests  shouted, 
'Blasphemer!'  and  called  for  him  to  be  stoned  to 
death;  and  the  passionate  Abijah,  the  most  viru- 
lent of  the  scribes,  cast  his  iron  ink-horn  vio- 
lently at  him,  but  one  of  the  soldiers  turned  it 
aside  with  his  lance;  at  which  there  was  a  deep 


398          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

murmur  against  the  Romans,  which  Caiaphas^ 
with  difficulty,  silenced. 

"A  second  witness  was  now  produced  by  Abi- 
jah,  who  testified,  that  Jesus  had  taught  in 
Samaria,  that  men  would  soon  no  longer  wor- 
ship in  the  Temple,  but  that  the  whole  earth 
would  be  the  temple,  for  Jews  and  Gentiles. 

"This  was  no  sooner  heard,  than  some  of  the 
men  gnashed  at  Jesus  with  their  teeth,  and,  but 
for  the  gestures  and  loud  voice  of  the  High- 
Priest,  they  would  have  made  an  attempt  to  get 
him  into  their  power.  The  noise  of  their  rage  is 
described  as  having  been  like  the  roaring  of  all 
the  wild  beasts  of  the  wilderness,  rushing  to  the 
banquet  of  a  fresh  battle-field. 

"A  third  witness,  a  man  who  had  been  notor- 
ious for  his  crimes,  now  came  up.  He  carried 
on  his  wrist  a  cock,  with  steel  gaffs  upon  the 
spurs,  as  if  just  brought  up  from  the  cock-pit  to 
bear  testimony ;  for  such  were  the  sort  of  fellows 
suborned  by  the  priests.  He  testified  that  Jesus 
said,  that  the  day  would  soon  come  when  not  one 
stone  should  be  left  upon  another  of  the  Temple; 
that  he  had  called  it  'a  den  of  thieves,'  and  the 
priests  'blind  guides'  and  deceivers;  the  scribes 
'foxes';  and  the  pharisees  'hypocrites!' 

"But  the  fourth  and  fifth  witnesses  contrar- 
dicted  each  other;  neither  did  the  testimony  of 
two  others  agree;  one,  who  asserted  that  he 
heard  him  call  himself  'the  Son  of  God,'  was  con- 
tradicted by  others,  who  asserted  that  it  was  only 
'the  Son  of  Man;'  and,  in  another  instance,  one 
said  he  heard  him  say,  that  he  and  God  were 
One,  while  the  other  testified  that  what  he  said 


THE  FRINGE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.  399 

was,  that  God  was  greater  than  he.  Neither  did 
other  witnesses  agree  together. 

"Such  opposite  testimony  perplexed  and  irri- 
tated Caiaphas,  and  confounded  the  chief-priests 
and  scribes.  The  High-Priest  now  began  to 
perceive  that  Jesus  would  have  to  be  released, 
for  want  of  testimony  against  him.  All  the  while 
the  prisoner  had  remained  standing  before  him 
bound,  with  his  hands  tied  across  his  body,  his 
countenance  mild,  but  heroic — 'the  firmness  and 
composure  of  innocence/  as  yEmilius  described 
his  bearing  to  be. 

'''What!  Galilean  and  blasphemer  of  God 
and  His  Temple!  answereth  thou  nothing?'  cried 
the  High-Priest;  'hearest  thou  not  what  these 
witnesses  say  against  thee!' 

"But  Jesus  remained  silent.  Caiaphas  was 
about  to  break  the  silence  by  some  fierce  words, 
when  a  voice  was  overheard  the  other  side  of 
the  columns,  on  the  left  of  the  throne,  where  was 
a  fire-place,  in  which  was  burning  a  large  fire, 
about  which  stood  many  persons.  Rabbi  Amos 
at  once  recognized,  in  the  violent  speaker,  Peter, 
who  had  come  in  with  him  and  John;  the  latter 
of  whom,  in  the  disguise  of  a  priest,  stood  not 
far  from  Jesus,  gazing  tenderly  upon  him,  and 
listening,  with  the  most  painful  interest,  to  all 
that  they  testified  against  him:  but  Peter  stood 
farther  off,  by  the  fire,  yet  not  less  eagerly  attend- 
ing to  all  that  passed. 

'"Thou  art  one  of  the  Nazarene's  followers!* 
cried  the  voice  of  a  maid,  who  brought  wood  to 
feed  the  fire.  Thou  needest  not  to  deny  it.  I 


400          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

am  of  Galilee,  and  knew  thee  when  thou  wert  a 
fisherman.  Seize  him,  for  he  is  one  of  them.' 

''  'Woman,  I  swear  by  the  altar  and  ark  of 
God,  and  by  the  sacred  Tables,  I  know  not  the 
fellow!  I  never  saw  Galilee!' 

"  'Thy  speech  betrayeth  thee,  now  thou  hast 
spoken!'  cried  the  woman;  'thou  art  a  Galilean, 
and  thy  name  is  Simon  Bar  Jona.  I  know  thee 
well;  and  how,  three  years  ago,  you  and  your 
brother  Andrew  left  your  nets,  to  follow  this 
Nazarene!' 

"  'May  the  thunders  of  Horeb  and  the  curse  of 
Jehovah  follow  me,  if  what  thou  sayest  be  true, 
woman.  Thou  mistakest  me  for  some  other 
man.  I  swear  to  you,  by  the  head  of  my  father, 
men  and  brethren,  that  I  never  saw  his  face 
before!' 

"As  he  spoke,"  said  John,  "he  cast  his  angry 
looks  towards  the  place  where  Jesus  stood.  He 
caught  his  Master's  eyes  bent  upon  him,  with  a 
tender  and  reproving  gaze,  so  full  of  sorrowing 
compassion,  mingled  with  forgiveness,  that  I 
saw  Peter  stand,  as  if  smitten  with  lightning. 
He  then  pressed  his  two  hands  to  his  face,  and 
uttering  a  cry  of  anguish  and  despair,  that  made 
the  High-Priest  start,  and  which  went  to  every 
heart,  he  rushed  out,  by  the  open  door,  into  the 
darkness,  and  disappeared.  As  he  did  so,  the 
cock,  which  was  held  tied  upon  the  wrist  of  the 
third  witness,  crowed  twice,  in  so  loud  a  tone, 
that  it  caused  some  persons  in  the  gross  crowd 
to  burst  into  laughter,  and  to  imitate  him,  greatly 
to  the  annoyance  of  Caiaphas,  who  for  some  time 
could  not  still  the  confusion.  I  then  remem- 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          401 

tiered  the  words  of  Jesus  to  Peter,  spoken  but 
twelve  hours  before:  'This  night,  even  before  the 
cock  crow  the  first  watch  of  the  morning,  thou 
shalt  thrice  deny  that  thou  knowest  me!'  Upon 
this,"  added  John,  "my  confidence  in  my  Master 
came  back,  full  and  strong,  and  I  felt  that  he 
would  not,  could  not,  be  harmed;  for,  that  he 
foreknew  all  things  that  could  happen  to  him, 
and  would  escape  danger  of  death. 

"At  length,  when  order  was  restored,  so  that 
Caiaphas  could  be  heard,  he  again  addressed 
Jesus,  saying,  but  with  more  respect  than  before: 

"  'Art  thou  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  Blessed? 
I  adjure  thee,  by  the  living  God,  tell  us  plainly  1' 

"Jesus  then  elevated  his  princely  form,  and 
bending  his  eyes  upon  the  face  of  the  High- 
Priest,  with  a  look  so  brightly-celestial  that  Caia- 
phas involuntarily  dropped  his  eyelids  to  the 
ground,  answered,  and  said: 

"  'If  I  tell  you,  O  Caiaphas,  ye  will  not  believe! 
If  I  prove  it  to  you  from  the  prophets,  and  by 
my  works,  ye  will  not  listen?  If  I  say  that  I 
am  Christ,  ye  will  not  then  acknowledge  me,  nor 
let  me  go  free!  I  have  spoken  openly  to  the 
world,  in  the  Temple,  and  in  the  synagogue.  I 
have  concealed  nothing.  Ask  them  which  heard 
me,  what  I  have  said.  Nevertheless,  I  say  unto 
you  what  I  have  before  taught,  that  I  am  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  the  Blessed;  and  hereafter  ye 
shall  behold  me  sitting  on  the  right  hand  of  the 
power  of  God,  and  coming  in  the  clouds  of 
heaven.' 

"  'Art  thou  the  Son  of  God?'  cried  several  of 


402          THE  PRINCE  OP  TflE  HOD8E  OF  DAVID. 

the  priests  at  once,  while  Caiaphas  held  up  his 
h.ands  in  horror. 

"  'Ye  have  said  that  which  I  am/  answered 
the  Prophet,  without  changing,  except  to  a  sub- 
linier  look,  the  expression  of  his  countenance, 
which,"  says  John,  "seemed  to  shine,  as  he  had 
seen  it  in  the  Mount,  when  he  was  transfigured 
before  him. 

"  'Men  of  Israel  and  Judah,  ye  hear  his  wordsl' 
cried  the  High  Priest,  rending  down  the  blue  lace 
from  his  ephod.  'Hear  ye  his  blasphemy?' 

"  'Said  I  not,  son  of  Aaron,  that  you  would 
neither  believe  me  nor  let  me  go,  if  I  told  you 
who  I  am?'  said  Jesus,  firmly.  'I  tell  you  the 
truth,  and  ye  call  it  blasphemy!' 

"  'Answerest  thou  the  High-Priest  so!'  cried 
Abner,  furiously,  'the  chief  officer  of  the 
Temple!'  striking  him  with  the  palm  of  his  hand 
across  the  mouth. 

"Jesus  calmly  answered,  with  the  blood  trick- 
ling from  his  lips:  'If  I  have  spoken  evil,  bear 
witness  of  the  evil,  and  judge  me  by  our  law;  but 
if  well,  why  smitest  thou  me?' 

"  'Ye  have  heard  the  blasphemy,'  said  Caia- 
phas, extending  his  hands  towards  the  people. 
'What  think  ye?  Need  we  any  further  witness 
than  his  own  mouth?' 

"  'He  is  guilty  of  death !'  cried  Abner,  in  a 
hoarse  voice,  his  eyes,  red  with  being  up  all  the 
night,  glaring  like  a  leopard's ;  and  advancing  to 
where  Jesus  stood,  bound  and  bleeding,  he  spat 
in  his  face  thrice. 

"This  was  followed  by  a  loud  outcry  for  his 
'death;  and  several  vile  fellows  also  spat  upon 


THE   PlilNCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  4C3 

him,  and  pulled  him  by  the  beard,  and  for  some 
minutes  it  seemed  to  be  the  only  thought  of  all, 
who  were  any  ways  near  him,  to  do  him  some 
ignominy;  and,  but  for  the  protection  of  yEmilius 
and  his  soldiers,  they  would  have  torn  him  in 
pieces. 

"  'Is  this  Jewish  justice?'  cried  ^milius,  in- 
dignantly, to  Caiaphas.  'Do  you  condemn  and 
kill  a  man  without  witness?  Stand  back, 
hounds,  for  Romans  are  not  used  to  see  men 
condemned  without  law.  Back,  fellows — or 
your  blood  shall  flow  sooner  than  his  for  which 
you  thirst!' 

"At  this  determined  attitude  they  gave  back 
for  a  moment,  and  left  Jesus  standing  in  the 
midst,  sad  but  serene. 

"John  ran  to  him,  and'  wipecl  the  blood  and 
imcleanness  from  his  lips,  and  cheeks,  and  beard, 
and  gave  him  water,  which  the  woman  who  had 
recognized  Peter,  compassionately  brought  in  a 
ewer. 

"'Master,  use  thy  power,  and  escape  from 
them!'  whispered  John. 

"  'Nay — tempt  me  not,  beloved,'  he  answered. 
'My  power  is  not  for  my  deliverance,  but  for  that 
of  the  world.  For  you  I  can  do  mighty  works; 
but  for  myself  I  do  nothing.  I  came  not  to  save 
my  life,  but  to  lay  it  down!  Mine  hour  is  at 
hand!' 

"  'Let  not  a  handful  of  Romans  frighten  you, 
men  of  Jerusalem!'  cried  Abner.  'There  is  not 
a  legion  in  all  the  city.  Here  we  are  masters,  if 
we  will  it!  To  the  rescue!  Let  me  hear  the 
Lion  of  Judah  roar  in  his  might,  and  the  Eagle 


404          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

of  Rome  will  shrink  and  fly  away.  To  the 
rescue!' 

"'Hold!  men  and  brethren!'  cried  Caiaphas, 
who  had  judgment  enough  to  see  that  the  first 
blow  would  be  the  beginning  of  a  revolution, 
that  would  bring  down  upon  the  city  the  Roman 
army  quartered  in  Syria,  and  end  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  nation.  'Hold,  madmen!' 

"But  his  voice  was  drowned  amid  the  roar  oi 
the  human  tempest.  ^Emilius  and  his  men  were 
borne  away  on  the  crest  of  the  surge,  and  so 
pressed  by  the  bodies  of  the  Jews  that  they  could 
not  make  use  of  their  weapons.  In  the  wild  con- 
fusion, Jesus  was  carried,  by  fierce  hands,  to  the 
opposite  end  of  the  council-chamber;  while  Caia- 
phas strove  to  appease  the  wrath  of  ^milius, 
who  insisted  that  the  fate  of  Jesus  should  be  left 
with  Pilate,  the  Procurator.  After  brief  consul- 
tation with  the  chief-priests,  elders,  and  scribes, 
Caiaphas  consented;  though  knowing  that 
Pilate,  being  a  Pagan,  would  not  heed  a  charge 
of  blasphemy,  he  resolved  with  the  rest,  that 
nothing  should  be  said  of  that  before  him,  but 
that  he  should  be  accused  to  him  of  sedition, 
and  setting  up  a  kingdom  in  opposition  to  the 
universal  empire  of  Csesar. 

"When  ^Emilius,  aided  by  the  authority  of 
Caiaphas,  at  length  came  where  Jesus  had  been 
dragged,  they  found  him  standing  blindfolded 
among  a  crowd  of  the  basest  fellows  of  Jerusa- 
lem, who  were  amusing  themselves  by  slapping 
his  cheeks,  and  asking  him  to  tell,  by  his  divine 
knowledge  of  all  things,  who  did  it?  They 
would  also  hold  money  before  his  blinded  eyes, 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  405 

and  ask  him  to  name  its  value  or  inscription; 
and  when  he  still  kept  silence,  they  struck  him, 
beat  him  with  their  hands,  and  cruelly  smote  him 
with  their  staves  to  make  him  respond. 

"  'We  will  let  thee  go,  Nazarene,'  said  one,  'if 
thou  wilt  tell  how  many  hairs  I  have  in  my 
beard!' 

"  'Nay,  let  him  divine!'  cried  another,  'what  I 
gave  for  my  Passover-lamb,  in  the  market,  and 
the  name  of  the  Samaritan  of  whom  I  bought  it!' 

"  'Out  with  your  lambs,  Kish !'  shouted  a  third 
fellow,  thrusting  himself  forward,  'let  me  hear 
him  prophecy!  It  is  a  rare  quail,  a  prophet,  in 
these  dull  times.  What,  Galilean,  silent  and 
sullen!  I  will  make  thee  speak,  and  sing,  too!' 
and  he  let  a  blow  of  his  staff  fall  upon  the  head 
of  Jesus,  which  would  have  felled  him  to  the 
earth,  but  for  the  voice  of  Caiaphas,  which  ar- 
rested, in  part,  its  force. 

"  'Men  of  Israel !'  he  cried  aloud,  'that  this 
pestilent  Nazarene  is  a  blasphemer,  we  have 
heard  with  our  ears;  and,  by  our  law,  he  ought 
to  die,  because  he  hath  made  himself  the  Son  of 
God!  But  Caesar  hath  taken  the  power  of  life 
and  death  out  of  our  hands!  We  can  put  no 
man  to  death,  but  the  Romans  only.  That  he 
has  spoken  against  Caesar,  and  is  a  seditionist, 
can  be  proved.  Let  us  take  him  before  Pilate 
with  this  accusation;  and  if  he  be  found  guilty 
of  death,  as  he  will  be,  unless  the  Procurator 
wink  at  a  usurper's  rising  up  in  his  government, 
which  he  will  not  dare  to  do,  we  shall  have  the 
Nazarene  hanged  on  a  Roman  cross,  ere  the  sun 


406          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

reaches  the  mark  of  noon  on  the  dial  of  the 
Temple.' 

"This  speech  pleased  the  people,  and  having 
re-bound  Jesus,  more  securely,  they  cried,  all 
with  one  voice:  'to  Pilate!  To  the  Pretorium!'" 

The  multitude  then  poured  out  of  the  gates  of 
the  palace,  like  a  foaming  and  chafing  river, 
which  hath  overflowed  its  banks,  and  with  ter- 
rible cries  which  we  heard,  startling  the  dawn, 
even  in  our  house,  took  the  direction  towards 
the  Pretorium.  Of  the  hundreds  of  thousands 
of  Jews  from  the  country,  who  crowd  Jerusalem 
like  a  bee-hive  at  this  holy  season,  not  one  slept 
that  night,  or  was  absent  from  that  scene;  and 
the  noise  of  the  tramp  of  that  multitude  shook 
the  very  foundations  of  Mount  Zion,  while  the 
murmur  of  voices  was  like  the  sound  of  many 
waters. 

It  was  with  difficulty  that  JEmtiins  could  pro- 
tect the  Prophet  in  safety  up  the  hill,  and  to  the 
entrance  of  the  Pretorium,  while  he  entered  with 
his  prisoner,  just  as  the  sun  gilded  the  loftiest 
pinnacle  of  the  Temple,  and  the  trumpets  of  the 
Levites  sounded  to  prayers. 

In  another  letter,  dear  father,  I  will  continue 
the  account  of  his  trial,  the  remembrance  of 
which,  while  I  now  write  of  it,  almost  rekindles 
again  all  my  love,  faith,  devotion  and  confidence 
in  him;  for  who  but  a  man,  God-sustained,  could 
have  borne  so  meekly  all  his  pain,  insult,  igno- 
miny, and  shame? 

ADINA. 


LETTER    XXXII. 

My  Dear  Father: — This  is  the  evening  of  the 
Great  Day  of  the  Feast,  and  the  second  day 
since  the  ignominious  execution  of  him  whom 
we  all  believed  to  have  been  a  Prophet  sent  from 
God — nay,  more  than  a  prophet,  Christ,  the  Son 
of  the  Blessed!  Yet  he  still  lies  dead  in  the 
tomb,  and  his  splendid  prophecies  of  his  future 
glory,  as  King  of  Israel,  have  perished  with  him. 
Alas!  that  one  so  good,  and  noble,  and  wise, 
should  have  been  a  deceiver!  Henceforth  I 
have  no  faith  in  goodness.  I  have  wept  till  I 
can  weep  no  more. 

I  will  now  resume  my  narrative  of  his  trial; 
for  I  would,  by  showing  you  how  like  a  true 
prophet  he  bore  himself,  even  before  his  judges, 
in  some  degree  excuse  myself  to  you,  for  being 
carried  away  by  him,  and  accepting  him  for  all 
that  he  professed  to  be — the  very  Messias  of 
Jehovah. 

It  is  now  the  close  of  the  High  Day  cf  the 


408          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

Feast.  The  slanting  rays  of  the  setting  sunj 
linger  yet  upon  the  gilded  lances  that  terminate1 
the  hundred  lesser  pinnacles  of  the  Holy  House 
of  the  Lord.  The  smoke  of  incense  curls  lazily 
up  the  sky  from  its  unseen  altar,  and  the  deep 
voices  of  the  choir  of  Le .  Ites,  increased  by  those 
of  the  tens  of  thousands  of  Judah,  who  crowd  all 
the  courts  of  the  Temple,  fall  upon  my  ears  like 
muffled  thunder.  I  neve  heard  anything  so 
solemn.  Above  the  Tempiv.  has  hung,  since  the 
crucifixion  yesterday,  the  cloud  of  the  smoke  of 
the  sacrifices,  and  it  immovably  depends  over  all 
the  city  like  a  pall.  The  sun  does  not  penetrate 
it,  though  its  light  falls  upon  the  earth  outside 
of  the  city;  but  all  Jerusalem  remains  in  shadow; 
and,  shooting  over  the  cloud,  the  setting  sun- 
beams, catching  the  lofty  pinnacles,  make  the 
gloom  beneath  only  seem  the  more  sombre. 
The  cloud  is  a  fearful  sight,  and  all  men  have 
been  watching  it,  and  talking  of  it,  and  wonder- 
ing. It  seems  to  be  in  the  form  of  a  pair  of 
black  gigantic  wings,  spreading  a  league  broad 
over  Jerusalem. 

There  it  hangs,  visible  from  my  window;  but 
we  are  in  some  sort  used  to  its  dreadful  presence, 
and  cease  to  fear;  but  we  are  lost  in  wonder! 
This  morning,  when  a  high  wind  arose,  blowing 
from  the  great  sea  eastward,  everyone  expected 
•and  hoped  to  see  the  cloud  sail  away  before  it  in 
the  direction  of  the  desert.  But  the  only  effect 
the  wind  produced  was  to  agitate  its  whole  sur- 
face in  tumultuous  billows,  while  the  mass  still 
retained  its  position  over  the  city.  The  shadow 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          409 

it  casts  is  supernatural  and  fearful,  like  the  dread 
obscurity  which  marks  an  eclipse  of  the  sun. 

And  this  reminds  me,  my  dear  father,  to  men- 
tion what,  in  the  multiplicity  of  subjects  that 
rush  to  my  pen  for  expression,  I  have  omitted  to 
state  to  you;  and  what  is  unaccountable,  unless 
men  have,  in  very  truth,  crucified,  in  Jesus,  the 
very  Son  of  God.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  the 
sun  disappeared  from  the  mid  heavens,  and  dark- 
ness, like  that  of  night,  followed  over  all  the 
earth,  so  that  the  stars  became  visible;  and  the 
hills  on  which  Jerusalem  stands,  shook  as  if  an 
earthquake  had  moved  them,  and  many  houses 
were  thrown  down;  and  where  the  dead  are 
buried,  outside  of  the  city,  the  earth  and  rocks 
were  rent;  tombs  broken  up,  and  the  bodies  of 
the  dead  were  heaved  to  the  surface,  and  exposed 
to  all  eyes;  and  some  arose,  and  went  alive  into 
the  city,  where  many  saw  them,  and  on  all  sides 
shrank  away  from  them  in  terror.  Others  of  the 
dead  bodies  have  lain  all  to-day,  for  the  Jews 
dare  not  touch  them  to  rebury  them,  for  fear  of 
being  defiled.  All  this  is  fearful  and  unaccount- 
able. What  will  be  the  end  of  these  things  is 
known  only  to  the  God  of  Abraham.  Never 
was  so  fearful  a  Passover  before.  Men's  faces 
are  pale,  and  all  look  as  if  some  dread  calamity 
had  befallen  the  nation.  Can  the  death  of  Jesus 
be  the  cause  of  all  these  things?  if  so,  he  was  the 
Son  of  God,  and  men  have  done  unto  him  what- 
soever they  listed.  If  he  be  the'  Blessed  Christ, 
whom  Caiaphas  and  the  priests  have  had 
crucified,  the  retribution  of  God's  vengeance 
upon  our  city  and  nation  is  but  just  begun.  But 


410    THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAYID. 

if  he  were  the  Christ,  why  did  he  not  save  him- 
self? 

My  last  letter,  my  dear  father,  closed  with  the 
termination  of  the  examination  of  Jesus  before 
Caiaphas,  the  High-Priest,  who,  not  being  able 
to  convict  him  of  anything  save  alleged  blas- 
phemy, and  not  having  the  power  in  his  hands 
to  condemn  him  to  death  on  this  charge,  re- 
solved, in  order  unfailingly  to  secure  his  execu- 
tion, to  charge  him  before  Pilate,  the  procurator, 
of  sedition  and  treason  against  Caesar.  But  for 
the  fact,  that  the  Romans  had  taken  the  power 
of  death  from  the  Jewish  nation,  Jesus  would 
have  been  then  stoned  to  death  for  blasphemy,  by 
order  of  Caiaphas;  but  a  more  ignominious 
death,  as  a  revolutionist  and  usurper  of  Caesar's 
crown,  was  in  reserve  for  him,  at  the  hands  of 
the  Roman  law. 

Guarded  by  ^milius,  who  was  his  true  friend 
to  the  last,  and  followed  by  the  envious  Caia- 
phas, the  fierce  Abner,  the  captains  of  the  Tem- 
ple, Scribes,  Pharisees,  Sadducees,  Herodians, 
and  a  mixed  rabble  of  the  Jews,  artisans,  peas- 
ants, robbers,  beggars,  and  all  the  off-scourings 
of  the  nation  that  pour  into  the  city  at  the  Pass- 
over season,  he  was  led  to  the  house  of  Pilate. 

The  Praetorian  gates  were  shut  by  the  Roman 
gruards,  as  the  tumultuous  crowd  advanced,  for 
Pilate  believed  the  Jews  were  in  insurrection, 
and  was  prepared  to  defend  his  palace;  for  so 
few  are  the  troops  with  him  in  the  city,  that  he 
has  for  some  weeks  held  only  the  name  of  power, 
rather  than  the  reality.  But  when  yEmilius  ex- 
plained to  the  captain  of  the  guard,  that  the 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          411 

Jews  desired  to  accuse  Jesus,  the  Nazarene,  of 
sedition  before  the  Procurator,  he  was  admitted, 
with  the  chief  men  of  the  city,  into  the  outer 
court  of  Antiochus ;  but  none  passed  beyond  the 
statue  of  Caesar,  lest  they  should  defile  them- 
selves; and,  at  their  call,  Pilate  came  forth  to 
them.  When  he  saw  the  vast  concourse  of  peo- 
ple with  Caiaphas  and  the  chief  priests,  and  many 
rich  Sadducees,  and  the  leading  men  of  Jerusa- 
lem in  the  advance,  and  Jesus  bound,  and  dis- 
figured by  the  insults  he  had  undergone,  and 
yEmilius  and  his  few  soldiers  enclosing  him  with 
their  protecting  spears,  and  heard  the  loud  voices 
of  the  multitude,  as  of  wolves  baying  for  the 
blood  of  a  defenceless  lamb,  he  stood  with 
amazement  for  a  few  moments,  surveying  the 
scene. 

"What  means  this,  ^milius?"  he  demanded, 
of  the  young  Prefect.  "Who  is  this  captive?" 

"It  is  Jesus,  called  the  Christ,  my  lord;  the 
Prophet  of  Galilee.  The  Jews  desire  his  death, 
accusing  him  of  blaspheming  their  God; 
and " 

"But  I  have  no  concern  with  their  religion,  or 
the  worship  of  their  God.  Let  them  judge  him 
after  their  own  way,"  said  Pilate,  indifferently, 
and  with  an  indolent  air. 

"But,  most  noble  Roman,"  said  Caiaphas,  ad- 
vancing to  the  portico  on  which  the  Procurator 
stood,  "by  our  law  he  should  suffer  death;  and 
thou  knovvest  though  we  can  condemn,  as  we 
now  have  done,  this  Galilean,  we  have  no  power 
to  execute  sentence  of  death!" 

"This  is  well  said;  but  would  you  have  me  put 


412          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID 

one  of  your  nation  to  death  for  blaspheming  your 
God?  So  far  as  that  is  concerned,  O  priest," 
added  Pilate,  smiling  contemptuously,  "we  Ro- 
mans blaspheme  him  daily;  for  we  worship  him 
not,  and  will  have  nought  to  do  with  your  faith. 
Let  the  man  go!  I  see  no  cause  of  death  in 
him!" 

He  then  spoke  to  ^Emilius,  and  desired  him  to 
lead  Jesus  to  the  spot  where  he  stood.  Pilate 
then  regarded  him  with  mingled  pity  and  inter- 
est. After  surveying  him  a  moment,  he 
turned  to  one  of  his  officers,  and  said  aside:  "A 
form  divine,  and  fit  for  Apollo,  or  any  of  the 
greater  gods!  His  bearing  is  like  a  hero.  Me- 
hercule!  The  chisel  of  Praxiteles,  nor  of  Phid- 
ias, ne'er  traced  the  outlines  of  limbs  and  neck 
like  these.  He  is  the  very  incarnation  of  human 
symmetry  and  dignity." 

The  courtiers  nodded  assent  to  these  cool 
criticisms  of  the  indolent  and  voluptuous  Italian. 
Jesus,  in  the  meanwhile,  stood  motionless  before 
his  judge,  his  eyes  downcast,  and  full  of  a  holy 
sadness,  and  his  lips  compressed  with  immov- 
able patience.  Pilate  now  turned  to  him,  and 
said: 

"Thou  art,  then,  that  Jesus  of  whom  men  talk 
so  widely.  I  have  had  curiosity  to  see  thee;  and 
thanks,  Caiaphas,  to  thee,  for  this  privilege. 
Men  say,  O  Jesus,  that  thou  art  wiser  than  ordi- 
nary men;  that  thou  canst  do  works  of  necro- 
mancy, and  art  skilled  in  the  subtle  mysteries  of 
astrology.  I  would  question  thee  upon  these 
things.  Wilt  thou  read  my  destiny  for  me  in 
the  stars?  If  thou  answerest  well,  I  will  befriend 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  413 

thee,  and  deliver  thee  from  thy  countrymen,  who 
seem  to  howl  for  thy  blood." 

"My  lord!"  cried  Caiaphas,  furiously,  "thou, 
must  not  let  this  man  go!  He  is  a  deceiver,  and 
traitor  to  Caesar.  I  charge  him  and  formally  ac- 
cuse him,  before  thy  tribunal,  of  making  himself 
king  of  JudeaJ" 

To  this  the  whole  multitude  assented,  in  one 
deep  voice  of  rage  and  fierce  denunciation,  that 
shook  the  very  walls  of  the  Pretorium. 

"What  sayest  thou?"  demanded  Pilate;  "art 
thou  a  king?  Methinks  if  thou  wert  such,  these 
Jews  have  little  need  to  fear  thee."  And  the 
"Roman  cast  a  careless  glance  over  the  mean 
and  torn  apparel,  and  half-naked  limbs  of  the 
Prophet. 

Before  Jesus  could  reply,  which  he  seemed 
about  to  do,  for  his  lips  parted  as  if  to  speak, 
there  -was  heard  a  sudden  commotion  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  court  of  Gabbatha  (for  thus  the 
outer  court  of  the  Pretorium,  where  they  were, 
Is  called  by  the  Jews),  and  a  loud,  hoarse  voice 
was  heard  crying:  "Make  way — give  back!"  He 
is  innocent." 

All  eyes  turned  in  the  direction  of  the  arch- 
way, when  a  man  was  seen  forcing  his  path 
towards  the  door  of  the  Judgment-Hall,  in  front 
of  which  Pilate  was  standing,  with  Jesus  a  step 
or  two  below  him. 

"What  means  this  madman!"  cried  the  Pro- 
curator. "Some  of  you  arrest  him!" 

"I  am  not  mad — »lre  is  innocent.  I  have  be- 
traved  the  innocent  blood!"  cried  Iscariot,  for  it 
was  he,  leaping  into  the  space  in  front  of  the 


414          THE  PRINCE  Ot    THE  HOCSE  OF  DAVID. 

portico.  "Caiaphas,  I  have  sought  thee  every- 
where!" he  exclaimed,  on  seeing  the  High- 
Priest.  "Take  back  thy  money,  and  let  this  holy 
Prophet  of  God  go  free!  I  swear  to  you  he  is 
innocent;  and  if  thou  harm  him,  thou  wilt  be  ac- 
cursed with  the  vengeance  of  Jehovah!  Take 
back  thy  silver,  for  he  is  innocent!" 

"What  is  that  to  us?  See  thou  to  that,"  an- 
swered Abner,  the  priest,  haughtily;  for  Caia- 
phas was  too  much  surprised  at  this  open  ex- 
posure of  his  bribery  of  Judas  to  speak,  his  eyes 
falling  under  the  withering  glance  of  the  Roman 
Procurator. 

"Wilt  thou  not  release  hir  ^  if  I  give  thee  back 
the  pieces?*'  cried  Judas,  in  accents  of  Despair, 
taking  Caiaphas  by  the  mantle,  and  then  Kneel- 
ing to  him  imploringly. 

But  Caiaphas  shook  him  off;  Abner  and  the 
chief-priests  also  spurned  him  from  them, 
as  he  approached  them,  when,  at  last,  in  a  fren- 
zied manner,  he  threw  himself  at  the  knees  of 
Jesus,  and  cried,  in  the  most  thrilling  accents: 

"Oh!  Master!  Master!  thou  hast  the  power! 
Release  thyself!" 

"No,  Judas,"  answered  the  Prophet,  shaking 
his  head,  and  gazing  down  compassionately 
upon  him,  without  one  look  c'  resentment  at  his 
having  betrayed  him,  "mine  hour  is  come.  I 
may  not  escape.  For  this  I  came  into  the 
world/' 

"I  believed  thou  wouldst  not  suffer  thysc'f  to 
be  arrested,  when  they  should  find  thee  in  Olivet, 
my  Master,  or  I  would  not  have  taken  their 
money.  It  is  my  avarice  that  hath  slain  th^c! 


TIIE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF   DAVID.  415 

Oh  God!  Oh  God!  it  is  too  late!"  Thus  crying, 
he  rose  and  rushed,  with  his  face  hid  in  his  cloak, 
forth  from  the  presence  of  all,  the  crowd  of  men 
giving  back  hastily,  as  he  advanced  through  their 
midst  towards  the  outer  gate. 

This  extraordinary  interruption  produced  a 
startling  effect  upon  all  present ;  and  it  was  a  few 
moments  before  Pilate  could  resume  his  exam- 
ination of  Jesus,  which  he  did  by  entering  the 
Judgment-Hall,  and  taking  his  seat  on  his 
throne.  He  then  repeated  his  question,  but  with 
more  deference  than  before:  "Art  thou  a  king, 
then?" 

"Thou  sayest  that  which  I  am — a  king,"  he 
answered,  with  a  digmtv  truly  regal  in  its  bear- 
ing; for  all  the  time,  bound  and  marred  as  he 
was  by  the  hands  of  his  enemies,  pale  with  suffer- 
ing, and  with  standing  a  sleepless  and  fearful 
night  upon  his  feet,  exposed  to  cold  and  to  in- 
sults, yet  he  had  a  kingly  air,  and  there  seemed 
to  float  about  his  head  a  divine  glory,  as  if  a  sun- 
beam had  been  shining  down  upon  him;  yet  no 
sunshine  that  day  penetrated  the  dark-winged 
cloud,  that  hung  suspended  low  above  the  city. 

"Thou,  thyself,  hearest  him!"  exclaimed  Caia- 
phas,  standing  upon  the  threshold  of  the  Judg- 
ment-Hall of  the  Gentile  governor,  which  he 
would  not  enter  for  fear  of  defilement. 

"He  hath,  also,  sought  to  prevent  the  people 
from  paying  tribute  to  Csesar!"  cried  Abner, 
shouting  through  an  open  window,  for  he  also 
would  not,  on  account  of  the  holy  feast,  be  pro- 
faned by  entering  a  Gentile  house. 

"He  has  everywhere  publicly  proclaimed  that 


416          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

he  has  been  ordained  of  God,  to  re-establish  the 
kingdom  of  Judah,  and  overthrow  the  power  of 
Caesar  in  Jerusalem,"  added  the  Governor  of  the 
Temple,  lifting  his  voice  so  as  to  be  heard  above 
the  voices  of  the  priests  and  scribes,  who,  all 
speaking  together,  vehemently  accused  him  of 
many  other  things,  which  we  all  knew  not  to  be 
true. 

Pilate  at  length  obtained  comparative  silence, 
and  then  said  to  Jesus: 

"Hearest  thou  these  accusations?  Hast  thou 
no  answer  to  make?  What  defense  hast  thou, 
Sir  Prophet?  Answerest  thou  nothing?  Be- 
hold how  many  things  they  witness  against 
thee!" 

Pilate  spoke  as  if  he  had  taken  a  deep  interest 
in  Jesus,  and  would  give  him  an  opportunity  of 
defending  himself. 

"He  hath  perverted'  the  nation — a  most  pesti- 
lent and  dangerous  fellow!"  exclaimed  Caiaphas. 
"He  is  a  blasphemer,  above  all  men." 

"I  have  nothing  to  do  with  your  religion.  If 
he  has  blasphemed  your  gods,  take  ye  him  and 
judge  him  according  to  your  laws,"  answered 
Pilate. 

"Thou  knowest,  O  noble  Roman,  that  we  have 
no  power  to  execute  to  the  death — therefore  do 
v*e  accuse  him  before  thee." 

"I  am  no  Jew,  priest!  What  care  I  for  your 
domestic  and  religious  quarrels.  He  hath  done 
nothing,  that  I  can  learn,  for  which  the  laws  of 
Imperial  Rome,  which  now  prevail  here,  can  ad- 
judge him  to  death.  I,  therefore,  command  his 
release,  as  having  done  nothing  worthy  of  cap- 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.          417 

ifal  punishment,  ^milius,  unbind  thy  prisoner, 
and  let  him  go.  I  find  no  fault  in  him,  that  he 
should  be  longer  held  in  bonds." 

Upon  this  the  Jews  sent  up  a  cry  of  unmingled 
ferocity  and  vindictiveness.  Caiaphas,  forget- 
ting his  fear  of  defilement,  advanced  several  steps 
into  the  Judgment-Hall,  and  shaking  his  open 
kands  at  Pilate,  cried: 

"If  .thou  lettest  this  man  go,  thou  art  not 
Caesar's  friend.  Thou  art  in  league  with  him. 
He  that  sets  himself  up  as  a  king,  in  the  wide 
bounds  of  Caesar's  dominions,  wars  against  Caesar, 
as  well  at  Jerusalem  as  at  Rome.  If  thou  re- 
lease this  man,  I  and  my  nation  will  accuse  thee 
to  thy  master,  Tiberius,  of  favoring  this  Gali- 
lean's sedition.  He  hath  stirred  up  all  Jewry, 
from  Galilee  to  this  place,  and  yet  thou  findest 
no  fault  with  him!" 

When  Pilate  heard  the  name  of  Galilee,  he 
asked  if  the  prisoner  were  a  Galilean?  Upon 
being  answered  in  the  affirmative  by  the  excited 
priest,  he  said  to  /Emilius: 

"Hold — loose  not  his  bonds  just  now!  Herod, 
the  Tetrarch  of  Galilee,  last  night  came  up  to 
the  Passover  feast  of  his  God,  and  is  now  at  the 
old  Maccabean  palace,  with  his  retinue.  Con- 
duct your  prisoner  to  him,  and  let  Herod  judge 
his  own  subjects.  Present  him  with  this  signet 
in  token  of  amity.  Tell  him  I  will  not  interfere 
with  his  privileges,  and  that  I  desire  he  would 
take  and  judge  the  man  as  if  he  were  in  his  own 
tetrarchate." 

The  chief  priests  and  scribes  now  shouted  with 
approbation  at  this  decision,  for  they  began  to 


418          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVIDt. 

fear  that  Pilate  would  release  him;  and  they  knew 
that  the  vacillating  and  reckless  Herod  would  do 
whatsoever  would  gain  popular  applause. 

"If  he  sends  us  to  Herod  with  him,"  said  the 
priest  Abner,  "his  doom  is  sealed — his  blood  is 
ours!"  And  the  multitude  without  hailed  the 
reappearance  of  ^Emilius,  and  his  unresisting 
captive,  from  the  Judgment-Hall,  and  followed 
them  across  the  marble  pavement  of  Gabbatha, 
into  the  street,  crying: 

"To  Herod! — to  the  Tetrarch  of  Galilee  with 
him!" 

But  Caiaphas,  frowning  and  dissatisfied,  re- 
mained behind,  and  Pilate,  glad  to  get  rid  of  the 
delicate  affair  of  condemning  an  innocent  man, 
to  gratify  the  envy  of  the  Jews,  by  sending  him 
to  his  enemy,  Herod,  smilingly  came  out,  and 
spoke  to  the  gloomy  High-Priest: 

"Thou  wert  something  sharp  upon  me  just 
now,  my  lord  Caiaphas.  Thou  knowest  I  can 
condemn  men  only  for  crimes  committed  against 
the  laws  of  the  Empire.  This  Jesus  has  done 
nothing  worthy  of  death,  were  he  called  before  a 
tribunal  in  the  capital  of  the  world  itself,  Caesar 
his  judge." 

"Noble  Governor,"  answered  Caiaphas,  stop- 
ping in  his  angry  strides  up  and  down  the  por- 
phyry floor  of  the  outer  portico,  "thou  forgettest 
that  I  brought  him  not  before  thee  on  this  charge 
of  blasphemy  alone;  but  for  sedition.  By  the 
altar  of  God!  this  is  a  crime  known  to  thy  laws  I 
wot!" 

"True.  You  charge  a  young,  defenceless, 
quiet,  powerless  man,  destitute  of  money,  men, 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  419 

or  arms,  an  obscure  fisherman  or  carpenter  of 
Galilee,  of  setting  up  a  throne  and  kingdom 
against  that  of  Tiberius  Caesar,  the  ruler  of  the 
earth!  The  idea  is  absurd.  It  should  be  treated 
only  with  ridicule.  So  will  Herod  say,  when  he 
understands  the  affair." 

"So  will  not  Caesar  say,  my  lord,"  answered 
Caiaphas,  with  a  sneer  upon  his  curled  lip;  "if 
you  let  this  man  go  (for  Herod  will  not,  surely, 
accept  your  courtesy,  and  judge  him  within  your 
jurisdiction),  the  Jewish  nation  will  draw  up  a 
memorial,  accusing  you  to  the  Emperor,  of  pro- 
tecting treason.  You  will  be  summoned  by  the 
Senate  to  answer  the  charge;  and  though  you 
should  succeed  in  clearing  yourself,  you  will  have 
lost  your  government,  given  to  another,  and  for 
your  fair  name,  you  will  live,  ever  after,  under 
Caesar's  suspicions!" 

Here  the  High  Priest,  said  my  Uncle  Amos, 
who  heard  all  that  passed,  looked  with  concen- 
trated maliciousness  into  the  eyes  of  the  Italian 
ruler,  who  turned  pale,  and  bit  his  lips  with  vex- 
ation. 

"My  lord  priest,  thou  art  bent,  I  see,  on  this 
innocent  man's  death.  I  am  no  Jew,  to  under- 
stand how  he  has  drawn  upon  himself  thy  terrible 
wrath,  and  that  of  thy  nation.  It  must  have 
been  something  I  am  incapable  of  comprehend- 
ing. I  will  see  what  Herod  will  say,  who,  being 
a  Jew,  is  familiar  with  your  customs.  But  it 
seems  to  me,  O  Priest,  that  the  testimony  of  the 
wretched  man  whom,  I  see,  you  bribed  to  betray 
his  master  into  your  power,  would  now  release 
him!" 


420  THE    PRINCE   OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   DAVID. 

Pilate  now  reseated  himself  upon  his  throne. 

While  he  spoke,  a  youth  threw  himself  from 
his  horse,  at  the  door  of  the  court,  and  drew  near 
the  Procurator. 

"What  aileth  thee,  Alexander?"  demanded 
Pilate,  on  seeing  blood  on  his  temples,  and  that 
he  seemed  faint. 

"But  a  trifle  now,  my  good  lord.  I  was 
thrown  from  my  horse,  who  was  startled  at  a 
burning  torch,  lying  on  the  ground ;  and  was  de- 
tained at  a  hospitable  house  until  I  was  able  to 
remount,  which  brings  me  hither  late." 

~*'And  why  come  at  all?  What  news  sends  my 
fair  %vife,  that  she  should  despatch  you  from  my 
house  in  Bethany  at  this  early  hour?  No  evil 
tidings,  boy?" 

"None,  my  lord — save  this  note." 

The  Greek  page  then  handed  his  master  a 
small  roll  of  rose-tinted  parchment,  tied  with 
scarlet  thread.  He  cut  the  knot  with  his  dagger, 
and  reading  the  contents  became  deathly  pale. 
Caiaphas  watched  him  closely,  as  if  he  would 
read,  reflected  in  his  eyes,  the  contents  of  the 
note  which  had  so  deeply  moved  him. 

"Caiaphas,"  said  the  Procurator,  "this  prisoner 
must  be  released !" 

"It  is  either  his  destruction,  proud  Roman,  or 
thine!"  answered  the  High-Priest,  turning  and 
walking  haughtily  away. 

Pilate  looked  after  him  with  a  troubled  air,  and 
then  re-entered  the  Hall  of  Judgment,  and  seat- 
ing himself  upon  his  throne,  again  read  the 
parchment, 

"  'Have  thou  nothing  to  <lo  with  this  just 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  421 

man,'  he  read,  half  aloud,  'for  I  have  suffered 
many  things  this  day  in  a  dream  because  of  him!' 
'The  very  gods  seem  to  take  sides  with  this  ex- 
traordinary young  prisoner/  he  exclaimed, 
'Would  to  Jove  that  Herod  may  have  sense 
enough  to  release  him,  and  relieve  me  of  this  un- 
pleasant business.  One  might  better  keep  in 
subjection  a  province  of  painted  and  savage 
Scythians,  than  these  fierce  Jews.  I  should  be 
well  rid  of  my  Procuratorship ;  but  I  will  not  lose 
it  by  accusation  from  them!  I  must  save  both 
Jesus  and  myself!" 

While  he  was  yet  speaking  and  musing  with 
himself,  unconsciously,  aloud,  so  that  those  who 
stood  about  him,  among  whom  was  El  Nathan, 
the  brother  of  the  maid  Mirza,  who  dwells  in  our 
household,  and  from  whom  I  received  this  por- 
tion of  the  narrative,  there  was  heard  a  great 
noise  of  voices,  in  the  direction  of  the  Maccabean 
Palace;  and  as  it  grew  nearer  and  more  distinct, 
Pilate  started  up,  and  cried: 

"It  is  as  I  feared — Herod  gives  them  no  satis- 
faction, and  they  come  again  to  me!  Oh,  that 
the  gods  would  give  me  wisdom  and  nerve  for 
this  trying  hour,  so  that  I  condemn  not  the  inno- 
cent, nor  bring  myself  into  the  power  of  an  ac- 
cusation to  Csesar,  from  these  wicked  Jews!" 

At  this  moment  the  multitude,  increased,  if  it 
were  possible,  in  numbers  and  in  vindictiveness, 
reappeared,  pressing  Jesus  before  them.  This 
timehewas  alone,  ^milius  having  been  separated 
from  him  in  the  palace,  and  kept  by  the  crowd 
from  rejoining  him.  He  was  now  unbound,  and 
upon  his  head  was  a  crown  of  thorns,  piercing 


422          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

the  tender  temples,  till  the  blood  trickled  att 
down  his  face;  upon  his  shoulders  was  clasped 
an  old  purple  royal  robe,  once  worn  by  Herod, 
in  his  state  of  petty  king;  and  his  hand  held  a 
reed,  as  a  sceptre;  and  as  he  walked  along,  the 
bitterest  among  the  priests,  as  well  as  the  vilest 
of  the  common  fellows,  bent  the  knee  before  him, 
crying: 

"Hail!  King  Jesus!  Hail,  Royal  Nazarenel 
All  hail!" 

Others  went  before  him,  carrying  mock 
standards — while  others,  acting  as  heralds,  ran, 
shouting: 

"  'Make  way  for  the  King  of  the  Jews.  Do 
homage,  all  men,  to  Caesar!  This  is  the  great 
Tiberius,  Emperor  of  Nazareth!  Behold  his 
glittering  crown!  Mark  his  royal  robes,  and  see 
his  dazzling  sceptre!  Bend  the  knee — bend  the 
knee,  men  of  Judah,  before  your  king!" 

When  Pilate  saw  this  spectacle,  and  heard 
these  words,  he  trembled,  and  was  heard  to  say: 

''Either  this  man  or  I  must  perish!  These 
Jews  are  become  madmen  with  rage,  and  de- 
mand a  sacrifice.  One  of  us  must  fall !" 

Oh !  that  I  could  write  all  I  feel ;  but  I  am  com- 
pelled, my  dear  father,  to  end  here. 

lYour  affectionate  child, 

ADINA. 


LETTER    XXXIIL 

My  Dear  Father: — In  this  letter,  which  I 
write  in  the  solitude  of  my  chamber,  while  all  in 
the  house  have  sought  repose,  will  be  continued 
my  account  of  the  trial,  if  such  it  can  be  called, 
of  Jesus.  I  have  already  shown  you  how  he 
was  first  taken  to  Annas,  and  thence  dragged 
before  Caiaphas,  who,  unable  to  execute  upon 
him  the  sentence  of  death,  sent  him  to  the  Pro- 
curator Pilate,  charged  with  conspiracy;  and  he, 
shrinking  from  condemning  a  man  whom  he  knew 
to  be  innocent  of  any  crime,  and  yet  fearing  to 
release  him,  lest  he  should  be  impeached  by  the 
Jews  to  Caesar,  sought  to  shift  the  responsibility 
upon  Herod,  in  whose  tetrarchy  lay  Nazareth, 
where  Jesus  ordinarily  dwelt. 

John,  the  faithful,  and  yet  trusting  disciple 
whom  Jesus  loved,  still  kept  near  his  captive 
Master,  and  sought  to  cheer  him  by  affectionate 
looks,  and,  where  he  could  do  it  with  safety,  by 
kind  acts.  More  than  once  he  was  rudely 


424          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

thrust  aside  by  the  fiercer  Jews,  and  once  several 
men  seized  upon  him,  and  would  have  done  him 
violence,  as  a  follower  of  the  Prophet,  if  Caia- 
phas,  to  whom  John  is  remotely  related,  and 
who  knows  him  well,  had  not  interposed.  In- 
deed, it  was  through  this  protecting  influence  of 
the  High-Priest,  that  the  disciple  was  allowed  to 
remain  near  Jesus.  And  while  John  was  thus 
doing  all  that  he  could  to  soften  the  asperity  of 
his  friend's  treatment,  we  at  home  were  exerting 
ourselves  to  soothe  the  maternal  solicitude  of 
Mary  of  Nazareth,  his  noble  and  heart-broken 
mother,  whom  with  difficulty  we  could  restrain 
from  rushing  to  the  palace,  and  casting  herself  at 
the  feet  of  the  Procurator,  to  implore  him  to 
interpose  to  save  her  son — her  only  son — from 
the  hands  of  his  own  countrymen!  Thus  a  two- 
fold scene  of  anguish,  at  the  palace  and  in  the 
house  of  Rabbi  Amos,  was  passing.  Mary, 
Martha,  and  Lazarus,  were  also  with  us,  having 
come  into  the  city  as  soon  as  my  cousin  Mary's 
letter  reached  them ;  and,  besides,  there  were  with 
i\s  four  or  five  of  the  disciples,  who  had  come  in, 
one  by  one,  secretly,  for  fear  of  being  seized  by 
the  Jews,  and  were  anxiously  waiting  here  the 
result,  and  firmly  believing  that  Jesus  would  yet 
free  himself  by  his  divine  and  miraculous  power. 
At  every  approach  of  a  footfall  at  the  door,  they 
eagerly  cried:  "It  is  the  Lord!"  But  ah,  in  vain 
their  hopes  and  all  our  anticipations! 

Herod,  the  Tetrarch  of  Galilee,  who  occupied 
the  olid  palace  of  the  Maccabees,  which  Alex- 
ander, the  Macedonian,  had  built  for  Seleucus, 
was  breaking  his  fast  with  fruit  and  wine,  at  a 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.          425 

table  overlooking,  by  a  window,  the  street  of  the 
Gentiles,  when  the  noise  of  the  advancing  thou- 
sands of  the  Jews,  who  were  bringing  Jesus  be- 
fore him,  reached  his  ear.  He  started  from  the 
table,  and  said: 

"These  people  are  surely  up  in  insurrection 
against  Pilate!" 

"No,  great  Prince,"  answered  the  lad  Abel,  his 
cup-bearer,  who  is  a  cousin  to  John,  and  has  told 
me  many  of  these  things;  "they  have  taken  the 
Nazarene  Prophet,  Jesus,  and  are  trying  him  for 
sedition." 

"This  uproar  proceeds  from  no  trial,  but  a  wild 
mob  in  motion,  and  they  seem  to  be  approach- 
ing," was  his  answer  to  him. 

As  Herod  spoke,  he  went  to  the  lattice  of  his 
basilica,  and  beheld  the  head  of  the  multitude, 
just  emerging  into  the  street,  from  that  which 
descended  from  the  hill  of  the  Pretorium.  At 
first  he  could  not  make  out  of  the  confused  mass 
any  individual  objects. 

"There  are  spears  and  Romans  in  the  van — 
and  I  see  priests  and  peasants  mixed  together. 
I  now  see  the  cause  of  all  the  tumult — a  mere 
youth,  bound  and  soiled,  and  pale  as  marble! 
What,  sirs,  this  is  not  the  Great  Prophet,  of 
whose  fame  I  have  heard?"  he  said,  turning  to 
his  officers.  "What  mean  they  by  bringing  him 
hither?  Yet,  Per  Bacchom!  I  am  glad  to  get 
a  sight  of  him!" 

The  crowd,  like  the  swelling  Nile,  flowed 
towards  the  gates,  roaring  and  chafing  like  its 
mighty  cataracts,  so  that  there  was  something 
fearfully  sublime  in  this  display  of  the  power  of 


i26          THE   PRINCE   OP   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

human  passions.  ^Emilius,  with  difficulty,  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  his  prisoner  into  the  piazza  of 
the  pal  ice,  so  closely  pressed  'he  -rowd  of  Jews 
around  and  upon  him.  At  length  he  stood  with 
him  before  Herod,  in  his  banquet-hall,  at  the 
further  end  of  which  was  a  dais,  or  throne,  where 
the  Tetrarch  sa.  down,  while  the  Jews  filled  all 
the  vast  room  with  a  billowy  sea  of  eager  faces. 

"Most  roya.  Prince,"  ,aid  ^milius,  kneeling 
before  Herod,  .md  presenting  the  signet,  "I  am 
sent  by  his  excea.ency,  Pontiu  Pilate,  the  Roman 
Procurator  of  Judea,  to  oring  before  you  this 
person  accused  of  blasphemy!  Ignorant  of  your 
customs  and  faith,  the  Governor  desires  that  you, 
•who  are  of  his  nation,  would  examine  him:  and, 
moreover  Piate,  learning  that  he  is  a  Galilean, 
and  a  subject  of  your  jurisdiction,  courteously 
declines  interfering  with  your  authority." 

When  Herod  Antipas  heard  delivered  so 
courteous  a  message  from  the  Procurator,  with 
whom  he  had  been  some  time  at  enmity,  partly 
on  account  of  Herod's  cruel  murder  of  John  the 
Baptizer,  whom  Pilate  thought  much  of,  he  was 
pleased. 

"Say  thou,  Sir  Knight,  to  his  Excellency,  the 
most  noble  and  princely  Governor  of  Judea,  that 
T  appreciate  his  extraordinary  civility,  and  that 
nothing  will  give  me  more  pleasure,  in  return 
for  such  dignified  courtesy,  than  to  be  considered 
by  him  his  friend:  and  that  I  regret  any  occur- 
rence that  has  hitherto  estranged  us.  "  Convey 
to  Mm  my  assurances  of  the  high  estimation  in 
which  he  has  ever  been  held  bv  me." 

JEmilius,  upon  receiving  this  answer,  arose, 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID,,          427 

and  bowed,  and  then  said,  with  the  boldness 
which  characterizes  him: 

"Most  noble  and  royal  king,  I  pray  you  heed 
not  the  charges  of  these  Jews,  touching  this 
prisoner.  They  have  conceived  against  him  a 
bitter  hatred,  without  just  cause.  He  has  done 
nothing  worthy  of  death!  Pilate  could  find 
nothing,  whatsoever,  in  him  deserving  of  the  at- 
tention of  the  dignity  of  a  Roman  tribunal." 

"Let  thy  prisoner  fear  not,"  answered  Herod, 
regarding  Jesur  attentively,  as  he  stood  before 
him,  in  the  cam.  majesty  of  innocence.  "I  will 
not  take  Pilate's  prerogative  of  judgment  out  o£ 
his  hrvnd,  so  handsomely  tendered  to  me.  If  he 
hath  blasphemed,  Mehe-^ulei  :he  High-Priest, 
the  priests  01  the  Temple  itseli,"  he  added,  laugh- 
ing, "do  thai  every  day  of  their  lives ;  for  religion 
is  at  a  low  ebb  among  the  hypocritical  knaves. 
I  have  nothing  to  do  with  tiieir  charges  of  blas- 
phemy, or  I  would  ha"e  hem  all  stoned  to  death, 
without  mercy.  I  will  first  see  oome  miracles 
wrougiit  by  thy  far-famed  prisoner,  good  yEmil- 
ius,  and  then  send  him  back  to  my  noble  friend 
Pontius,  whom  his  gods  prosper  in  all  things." 

Herod,  then  fixing  his  eyes  curiously  upon 
Jesus,  who  had  stood  silently  before  him,  seem- 
ingly the  only  unmoved  person  in  the  vast  con- 
course, heaving  and  murmuring  around  him, 
said  to  the  soldiers: 

"Unbind  him!  Some  one  bring  water,  to  re- 
move the  blood  from  his  cheeks  and  beard.  By 
the  staff  of  Jacob!  he  hath  been  roughly  handled. 
Wen  of  Israel,  it  becomes  not  such  as  you  to  do 
violence  to  a  man  before  he  is  condemned ;  and 


428          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OP  DAVID. 

then  if  it  be  proved  he  have  done  aught  deserv- 
ing chastisement,  let  the  law  punish  him.  This 
man  is  a  Galilean,  and  I  am  bound  to  see  him 
have  justice,  and  to  protect  him  from  wrong." 

While  he  was  speaking,  water  was  brought, 
and  John,  with  a  napkin,  wiped  away  the  stains 
of  blood,  which  flowed  from  the  wound  on  his 
temple,  inflicted  by  the  staves  of  the  Jews;  and, 
also,  removed  the  spots  from  his  princely  beard 
and  golden  hair.  He  also  arranged  his  mantle 
about  his  form.  Herod  regarded,  with  interest 
and  looks  of  compassion,  the  pale  and  divinely- 
serene  countenance  of  the  prisoner;  and  seemed 
struck  with  the  indescribable  majesty  of  his  as- 
pect and  bearing,  and  the  purity  of  soul  that 
beamed  from  his  holy  eyes. 

"Art  thou  the  Nazarene,  Jesus,  of  whom  I 
have  heard  so  much?"  he  asked,  in  deferential 
tones. 

"I  am  he,"  was  the  quiet  answer  of  the  captive. 

"Then  gladly  do  I  meet  thee;  for  I  have  long 
time  desired  to  see  thee;  and  I  would  fain  behold 
thee  do  some  miracle.  Men  say  thou  canst  heal 
the  sick,  restore  the  maimed,  and  raise  the  dead! 
Does  rumor  belie  thy  powers?  What*  Art 
thou  silent?  Dost  thou  not  know  who  it  is  that 
speaks  to  thee?  Come  hither,  fellow;"  he  called 
to  a  Samaritan  muleteer,  who  stood  in  the  crowdlr 
whose  ova!  face  and  Jewish  eyes  showe'd  him  to 
be  Soth  of  Assyrian  and  Israelitish  descent, 
whose  arm  had  been  taken  off  by  a  sword,  in  a 
contest  with  Barabbas  and  his  robbers:  "Come 
hither,  and  let  this  Prophet  prove  his  power  and 


THE  PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  429 

mission,  by  restoring  thy  arm  whole,  like  as  the 
other!" 

The  man  alertly  came  forward,  and  all  eyes 
were  directed  eagerly  upon  him,  and  upon  Jesus ; 
but  he  thrust  the  stump  of  his  arm,  by  Herod's 
order,  in  vain  before  Jesus.  The  eyes  of  the 
Prophet  moved  not  from  their  meditative  look 
upon  the  ground. 

"Art  thou  mocking  us,  thou  false  Christ!" 
cried  the  Tetrarch  angrily;  "wilt  thou  neither 
speak  nor  act?  If  thou  art  not  an  impostor,  do 
a  miracle  before  us  all,  and  we  will  believe  in 
thee!" 

Jesus  remained  motionless,  yet  with  a  firm  and 
majestic  countenance,  that  made  him  look  more 
kingly  than  Herod. 

"He  is  a  deceiver!  He  performed  his  vorks 
through  Beelzebub,  who  has  now  deserted  i.rm!" 
cried  the  priests. 

"Nazarene,"  said  Herod,  "I  am  a  Jew  also.  If 
thou  wilt  prove  to  me,  by  a  sign  that  I  will 
name,  that  thou  art  the  Christ,  I  will  not  only 
become  thy  follower,  but  will  let  thee  go  free. 
Your  silence  is  an  insult  to  my  power.  I  warn 
thee  that  my  patience  is  not  divine — I  make  no 
pretensions  to  superior  sanctity.  Thou  seest 
yonder  marble  statue  of  Judas  Maccabeus. 
Command  the  sword  in  its  hand  to  wave  thrice 
above  its  helmeted  head,  and  I  will  bend  the 
knee  to  thee!  Nay — wilt  not?  T  will  give  thee 
something  easier  to  do!  Seest  thou  the  carved 
pomegranates  in  the  entablature  of  the  wall? 
Bid  the  one  which  hangs  over  this  column  to 


430          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

turn  into  ripe,  natural  fruit,  and  fall  at  my  feet! 
No?" 

"He  has  no  power — his  friend  Beelzebub  hath 
given  him  up  into  our  hands!  Death  to  the 
necromancer!  were  the  words  which  now  made 
the  hall  tremble. 

"He  is  an  accursed  blasphemer!  He  would 
destroy  the  Temple!  He  calls  himself  the  Son 
of  God!  He  breaks  the  Sabbath-day!  He  is  a 
foe  to  our  religion!"  was  shouted  by  Abner,  the 
priests,  and  the  scribes. 

"See  the  whirlwind  thou  hast  raised,  O  Naza- 
rene!"  cried  Herod,  rising;  "if  thou  art-a  Proph- 
et, no  harm  can  they  do  thee;  and  if  thou  art 
an  impostor,  if  they  kill  thee,  thou  deservest  thy 
fate!  I  give  thee  up  into  their  hands!  Save 
thyself,  iAhou  be  the  Christ!" 

Scarcely  had  Herod  spoken  these  words,  re- 
linquishing Jesus  into  the  hands  of  his  foes,  than, 
with  a  savage  cry,  as  the  famished  jackals  in  the 
desert  rush  upon  their  prey,  they  rushed  upon 
their  victim.  ^milius  could  not  protect  him: 
nay,  some  of  Herod's  soldiers,  whom  the  Jews 
had  half-intoxicated  with  wine,  joined  them  as 
soon  as  they  saw  their  master  Antipas  had  cast 
him  off,  and  began  to  scoff  and  mock  him,  and 
one  of  them  thrust  a  helmet  on  his  head,  and 
pulled  the  visor  down  over  his  eves! 

"Nay,"  said  Herod,  on  seeing  this,  "as  he  calls 
himself  a  kin?,  crown  "him,  and  robe  him  rovallv, 
and  pl?re  a  srentre  in  hi<?  hand;  and  vonder  block 
•will  make  him  a  proper  throne!  We  must  show 
Pilate  how  we  Jews  serve  men  who  usurp  the 
power  of  his  master  Caesar!" 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  431 

No  words  could  have  better  pleased  the  people, 
save  such  as  would  have  sentenced  Jesus  to 
death.  With  a  glad  response,  they  began  to  put 
into  execution  the  hint  he  had  so  wickedly  given 
them.  One  of  his  men  of  war  brought  a  cast-off 
robe  of  purple,  which  belonged  to  Herod,  and. 
with  loud  shouts  of  laughter,  and  coarse  jests, 
they  robed  him  in  it,  unresisting  as  the  lamb 
wreathed  ior  the  sacrifice.  Some  one  then  tm- 
twined  the  creeping  thorn,  wrflch  grew  on  the 
outer  wall,  and  twisting  it  into  the  shape  of  a 
crown,  handed  it  over  the  heads  of  the  men  to 
Abner,  whose  hatred  against  Jesus  proceeded 
from  the  well-known  fact,  that  among  the 
changers  of  money,  whom  he  drove  from  the 
Temple,  was  a  younger  brother,  who  was  mak- 
ing, by  his  business,  great  gains  for  the  ava- 
ricious priest;  who,  therefore,  never  forgave  this 
net  of  the  Prophet. 

When  Abner  saw  the  crown,  he  smil*ed  with 
malicious  gratification,  and  nodding  approvingly 
to  the  man,  said: 

"This  is  what  we  needed!  Nothing  couM 
have  done  better;"  and  with  his  two  hands  he 
placed  it  upon  the  head  of  Jesus,  pressing, 
cruelly,  the  sharp  thorns  into  his  temples,  till  the 
blood  trickled  from  a  dozen  wounds.  Jesus 
made  no  complaint,  but  the  pain  forced  large, 
bright  tears  from  his  eyes,  which  rolled  down  his 
cheeks,  and  fell  along  the  purple  robe  like  glit- 
tering pearls. 

"Here  is  also  a  sceptre  for  our  king!"  ex- 
claimed the  man  with  one  arm,  using  this  one  to 
reach  a  piece  of  reed,  from  which  a  Passover- 


432          THE  PBINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

lamb  has  been  slung,  to  those  who  were  arraying 
Jesus.  This  was  thrust  into  his  grasp,  and  he  held 
it  patiently.  His  submission,  his  silence,  his  en- 
durance of  pain,  his  constant  dignity,  the  ma- 
jestic indifference  which  he  seemed  to  manifest 
to  all  their  insults  and  tortures,  brought  tears 
into  the  eyes  of  ^Emilius;  and  John,  unable  to 
benefit  his  dear  Master,  kneeling  at  his  feet, 
Dathed  them  with  his  flowing  tears,  nor  stirred, 
though  men  trampled  upon  him,  and  smote  him ; 
but  he  desired  to  suffer  with  his  Master,  and,  as 
he  said  to  me,  would  gladly  have  borne  in  his 
stead  all  his  indignities.  Even  Herod  stood 
amazed  at  such  God-like  forbearance,  and  said 
to  his  chief-captain:  "If  this  man  is  not  the  Son 
of  God,  he  is  worthy  to  be  deified.  Such  sub- 
lime patience  is  more  than  human — it  is  divine! 
You  Romans,  ^Emilius,  would  make  a  hero  of 
such  a  man,  and  when  he  died  worship  him  as  a 
god!" 

"Then,  mighty  Prince,  why  suffer  him  to  be 
thus  entreated?"  asked  /Emilius. 

"It  is  his  own  choice.  I  have  entreated  him 
fairly!  I  asked  of  him  but  one  of  those  miracles 
men  say  he  works,  as  proof  of  his  Messiahship, 
and  he  works  me  none — shows  me  no  sign!  The 
inference  is,  that  he  can  do  none,  and,  therefore 
is  an  impostor.  Else  why  not  prove  to  me  his 
pretensions  by  working  a  miracle?" 

"Most  royal  Prince,"  said  Abner,  aloud,  "thou 
now  beholdest  the  'King  of  the  Jews/  crowned, 
robed,  and  sceptred!"  and  he  pointed  to  Jesus. 

"Hail!  most  puissant  and  potent  sovereign  of 
•Galilee!  Hail!  King  of  Fishermen!"  cried 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID  433 

Herod,  mocking  him,  and  seemingly  greatly 
amused  at  the  jest.  "If  thou  wilt  tell  me  in  what 
part  of  cloud-land  thy  capital  lies,  I  and  my  court 
will  pay  thee  a  visit.  Doubtless,  thou  hast  a 
brave  army  of  Galilee  fishermen,  and  a  mighty 
fleet  of  fishing  boats!  Hail!  powerful  king! 
What,  fellows,  men-at-arms,  and  all  ye  gapers! 
bend  ye  not  the  knee  before  this  royal  person- 
age? Do  homage  to  your  king!" 

Upon  this  all  who  were  around  him  kneeled, 
and  some,  mockingly,  prostrated  themselves  be- 
fore the  Prophet;  but  he  stood  so  very  like  a 
monarch,  that  others,  who  were  about  to  mock 
him,  refrained;  and  Herod  even  turned  away, 
with  a  troubled  look,  saying,  abruptly: 

"Take  him  back  to  the  Procurator!" 

Once  more  the  vast  multitude  were  in  motion, 
and,  with  cries  and  insults,  escorted  Jesus  from 
the  presence  of  Herod,  back  to  the  Pretoriurn, 
as  I  have  already  stated  in  my  previous  letter. 

When  Pilate  beheld  their  return  in  this  man- 
ner, and  understood  how  that  Herod  declined 
exercising  his  privilege  in  the  matter,  he  was 
greatly  vexed.  When,  once  more,  Jesus  stood 
before  him,  arrayed,  as  I  have  described,  in  the 
gorgeous  robe  and  crown,  Pilate,  turning 
towards  Caiaphas  and  the  priests,  said,  angrily: 

"What  more  will  ye  have?  Why  bring  this 
man  again  before  me?  Ye  say  he  perverteth  the 
people.  Behold,  I  have  examined  him  before 
you,  and  have  -found  no  fault  in  him.  You 
proved  nothing  by  your  witnesses,  touching 
those  things  whereof  ye  accuse  him.  T  then  sent 
you  with  him  to  Herod,  and  lo!  the  Tetrarch  of 


43$.         THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

Galilee,  one  of  your  own  nation,  finds  nought  in 
him  worthy  of  death!  Doubtless  he  has  said 
something  about  not  paying  tribute,  and  de- 
serves for  this  a  light  punishment,  but  not  death. 
I  will  chastise  him,  and  charge  him  that  he  be 
more  cautious,  and  let  him  go." 

"If  thou  let  this  man  go,  thou  art  an  enemy  to 
Tiberius,"  answered  Caiaphas;  "see  thou  what  a 
commotion  he  has  raised  in  the  city?  If  he  is 
released  there  will  be  a  revolution,  and  Caesar 
will  come  and  take  away  our  place  and  nation. 
Is  it  better  that  all  Judea  should  perish  than  one 
man?  It  is  expedient  that  either  he  die  or  the 
people  perish.  Nothing  less  than  his  life  will 
now  be  received." 

"In  the  name  of  Olympian  Jove,  O  Nazarene, 
what  hast  thou  done  to  incense  these  Jews?  If 
thou  art  their  king,  prove  it  to  them  or  to  me," 
demanded  Pilate,  greatly  troubled. 

"My  kingdom  is  not  of  the  earth,"  answered 
Jesus.  "If  my  kingdom  were  an  earthly  one, 
then  would  my  servants  fight,  that  I  should  not 
be  delivered  to  the  Jews ;  but  my  kingdom  is  not 
of  this  world." 

"Then  thou  confessest  thyself  a  king!"  ex- 
claimed Pilate,  with  surprise. 

"Thou  sayest  that  which  I  am — a  King.  To 
this  end  was  I  born,  and  for  this  cause  came  I 
into  the  world,  that  I  should  bear  wifness  to  the 
truth." 

"Truth!  What  is  truth?"  asked  the  "Roman; 
but,  without  waiting  for  Jesus  to  reply,  and  see- 
ing that  the  Jews  outside  the  Hall  were  becora- 


THE  FKINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.          435 

ing  more  and  more  impatient,  he  hurriedly  went 
out  to  them,  and  said: 

"1  find  in  the  prisoner  no  fault  at  all.  But  ye 
have  a  custom,  that  I  should  at  the  Passover 
pardon  a  criminal  out  of  prison,  as  an  act  of 
clemency,  in  honor  of  the  day.  Will  ye,  there- 
fore, that  I  pardon  and  release  unto  you  this 
King  of  the  Jews?" 

No  sooner  had  Pilate  made  this  proposal,  than 
they  all,  with  one  voice,  and  furious  gestures, 
cried: 

"No!  no! — not  this  man!  We  will  not  have 
him  released.  We  will  have  the  vilest  male- 
factor thy  prison  holds,  rather  than  he!" 

"Whom  shall  I  then  release  unto  you?"  de- 
manded Pilate,  in  a  tone  of  disappointment. 

"Barabbas!  Barabbas!"  was  echoed,  and  re- 
echoed, by  ten  thousand  voices. 

This  Barabbas,  dear  father,  is  the  same  fierce 
bandit,  of  whom  I  have  spoken  in  one  of  my 
earlier  letters,  two  years  ago.  He  has  recently 
been  taken  captive,  while  heading  a  revolt,  in  the 
hill  country  south,  and  lies  now  under  condem- 
nation of  death,  and  was  on  that  day  to  have 
been  crucified,  with  two  of  his  lieutenants.  But, 
at  the  loud  demand  of  the  people,  Pilate  was 
forced  to  send  to  the  officer  of  the  wards,  to  let 
him  go  free;  and  it  was  but  a  short  time  before 
he  was  escorted  from  his  cell  to  the  front  of  the 
Pretorium  in  great  pomp,  and  became  presently 
one  of  the  most  active  in  hostility  to  Jesus. 

Pilate,  therefore,  finding  that  the  Jews  would 
be  content  with  nothing  less  than  the  blood  of 
Jesus,  returned,  sorrowfully,  into  the  Judgment- 


436          THE  PRINCE   OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID 

Hall,  where  he  had  left  him  seated  upon  the 
lower  step  of  his  throne;  for  he  could  no  longer 
stand  for  weariness,  and  for  the  heavy  treatment 
he  had  undergone. 

The  residue  of  my  narrative  of  the  condemna- 
tion and  crucifixion,  I  will  give  in  the  morning, 
dear  father, 

Hour  loving  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER    XXXIV. 

•My  Dearest  Father: — I  now  resume  the  nar- 
rative of  the  condemnation,  or  rather  sentence, 
of  Jesus,  after  he  had  been  brought  a  second 
time  before  Pilate.  The  Procurator,  finding 
that  the  Jews  would  have  the  Prophet's  life,  and 
that,  if  he  resisted  further,  he,  himself,  would  be 
reported  to  Caesar,  as  protecting  a  revolutionist 
and  usurper,  vacillated,  and  showed  an  indecision 
that  became  not  a  Roman  Governor.  His  sense 
of  justice  revolted  at  sacrificing,  to  the  hatred  oi 
the  people,  an  innocent  man,  against  whom  no 
accusation  had  been  proven;  and  he  feared  for 
his  own  name  and  fame,  should  Tiberius,  who  is 
always  jealous  of  his  Oriental  Governors,  believe 
their  statement  of  the  case. 

Jesus,  as  I  stated  in  my  last,  had,  from  weak- 
ness, sunk  upon  the  steps  of  the  throne  of  the 
Hall  of  Judgment.  John  knelt  by  him.  bathing 
the  wounds  in  his  temples,  from  which  he  had 
boldly  taken  the  crown  of  thorns.  When  Pilate, 


438          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

after  giving  the  order  to  release  the  robber-chief* 
Barabbas,  came  again  where  Jesus  was,  he 
stopped,  and  regarded  him  attentively,  and  with 
an  expression  of  sorrow  and  admiration.  The 
youthful  beauty,  the  dignity,  even  in  his  humilia- 
tion, the  patience,  and  air  of  innocence,  that  en- 
veloped him,  deeply  impressed  him.  At  length 
he  spoke: 

"If  thou  be  indeed  a  god,  O  heroic  young  man, 
as  thy  patience  would  seem  to  prove  thee  to  be, 
thou  needest  not  to  fear  these  blood-hounds,  that 
bay  so  fiercely  for  thy  blood.  If  thou  art  an  im- 
postor and  a  seditionist,  thou  verilv  meritest 
death.  I  regard  thee  but  as  a  youthful  enthus- 
iast, and  would  let  thee  go  free;  but  I  cannot 
protect  thee.  My  soldiers  are  reduced,  by  send- 
ing them  to  garrison  Jericho  and  Gaza,  to  less 
than  three  hundred  men:  and  of  these  enraged 
Jews  there  are  half  a  million  in  the  city.  It  is 
only  bv  moral  force,  ,and  show  of  power,  that  I 
keep  them  in  subjection.  If  I  release  thee,  not 
only  thou,  but  all  mv  troop?,  will  be  massacred: 
for  we  are  but  a  handful  in  their  grasp.  Tell  me 
truly,  art  thou  the  son  of  Tupiter!" 

When  Tesus,  instead  of  replying,  remained 
silent,  the  Procurator  said,  sternly: 

"What,  speakest  thou  not  unto  me?  Knowest 
thou  not  that  T  have  power  to  crucify  thee  as  a 
malefactor,  an'd  nower,  if  I  choose  to  meet  the 
risk,  to  release  thee?" 

Jesus  looked  ur>.  and  calmly  said:  ^ 

"Thou  couldst  have  no  power  against  me  ex- 
cept it  were  given  thee  from  above.  Therefore, 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          489 

he  that  delivered  me  into  thy  hand  hath  the 
greater  sin!" 

And  as  Jesus  said  these  words  in  an  impres- 
sive tone,  he  glanced  fixedly  at  Caiaphas,  who 
was  looking  in  at  the  door,  as  if  designating  the 
High-Priest.  Upon  this  Pilate  pressed  his 
hands  against  his  forehead,  and  paced  several 
times,  to  and  fro,  before  the  Judgment-seat,  as  i£ 
greatly  troubled.  Caiaphas  seeing  his  irresolu- 
tion, cried,  harshly: 

"If  thou  let  this  self-styled  king  go,  O  Gover- 
nor, thou  art  not  Caesar's  friend!  Our  whole 
nation  charges  him,  before  you,  with  setting  him- 
self up  to  be  our  king  over  us,  when  Tiberius  is 
the  only  king  to  whom  we  can  owe  allegiance. 
Release  the  Usurper,  if  thou  darest,  and  I  would 
not  give  two  brass  mites  for  thy  head!" 

Pilate's  brow  grew  dark.  He  took  Jesus  by 
the  hand,  and  leading  him  to  the  portal,  and 
pointing  to  him,  said  aloud: 

"Behold  your  king!  What  will  you  that  I 
should  do  with  him!  Looks  he  like  a  man  to  be 
feared?" 

"We  have  no  king  but  Caesar!" 

"Crucify  him!" 

"To  the  Cross  with  the  false  Prophet!" 

"Death  to  the  Usurper!  Long  live  Caesar! 
Long  live  Tiberius!  Death  to  the  Nazarene! 
To  the  Cross! — to  the  Cross  with  him!  Let  him 
be  crucified!" 

These  were  the  various  cries  from  ten  thou- 
sand throats,  that  responded  to  the  Procurator's 
address.  Impressed,  as  he  has  since  said,  with 
the  innocence  of  Jesus,  and  remembering  the 


440          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

warning  message  sent  him  by  his  young  and 
beautiful  wife,  who  held  great  influence  over  him, 
he  trembled  with  indecision. 

"Why  will  you  compel  me  to  crucify  an  inno- 
cent man?  What  evil  hath  he  done?" 

"Crucify  him!  Crucify  him!"  was  the  deafen- 
ing response. 

"I  will  chastise  him,  and  let  him  go!" 

"At  your  peril,  release  him,  O  Roman!"  ex- 
claimed Caiaphas,  in  a  menacing  tone.  "Either 
he  or  you  must  die  this  day  for  the  people. 
Blood  must  flow  to  appease  this  tempest!" 

The  tumult  was  now  appalling.  The  voices 
of  the  chief  priests  and  people  kept  up  a  cease- 
less uproar,  calling  for  his  crucifixion;  and  in 
vain  Pilate  appealed  to  their  humanity  and  jus- 
tice. They  drowned  his  voice  with  their  own; 
and  his  gesticulations  for  silence  only  increased 
the  roar  of  the  human  whirlwind. 

When  the  Procurator  saw  that  he  could  pre- 
vail nothing,but  that  rather  the  tumult  increased, 
he  called  for  water,  which  was  brought  to  him  in 
a  basin,  by  his  page;  and,  in  the  presence  of  the 
whole  multitude,  he  washed  his  hands,  saying: 

"I  am  innocent  of  the  blood  of  this  just  per- 
son. See  ye  to  it,  oh  Jews,  ye  and  your  High- 
Priest!" 

"His  blood  be  upon  us,  and  on  our  children," 
answered  Caiaphas;  and  all  the  people  re-echoed 
his  language: 

"Aye:  on  us  and  on  our  children,  rest  the  guilt 
of  Ms' blood!" 

"Pe  it  so,"  answered  the  Procurator,  with  a 
dark  brow,  nnd  face  pale  as  the  dead.  "Take  ye 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAT1D.          441 

him  and  crucify  him,  and  may  the  God  he  wor- 
ships judge  you,  not  me,  for  this  day's  deeds." 

Pilate  then  turned  away  from  them,  and  said 
to  Jesus,  who  stood  unmoved,  with  the  same 
heroic  and  celestial  serenity  which  he  had  mani- 
fested throughout  the  storm  raging  about  him: 

"Thou  art,  I  feel,  an  innocent  man;  but  thou 
seest  that  I  cannot  save  thee!  I  know  thou  wilt 
forgive  me,  and  that  death  can  have  no  terrors 
for  one  of  fortitude  like  thine!" 

Jesus  made  him  no  answer;  and  Pilate,  turning 
from  him,  with  a  sad  countenance,  walked  slowly 
away,  and  left  the  Judgment-Hall.  As  he  did 
so,  one  of  his  captains  said  to  him: 

"Shall  I  scourge  him,  according  to  the  Roman 
law,  which  commands  all  who  are  sentenced  to 
die  to  be  scourged?" 

"Do  as  the  law  commands,"  answered  the 
weak-minded  Roman. 

His  disappearance  was  the  signal  for  a  general 
rush  towards  Jesus,  chiefly  of  the  rabble,  who,  in- 
different about  Gentile  defilement,  crossed  the 
threshold  into  the  hall,  which  Caiaphas  and  the 
chief  priests  had  refrained  from  doing.  These 
base  fellows  seized  Jesus,  and,  aided  by  the  men- 
at-arms,  dragged  him  forth  into  the  outer  or 
common  hall.  Here  they  stripped  him,  and,  by 
order  of  the  chief  captain,  scourged  him  with 
forty  stripes,  save  one.  They  then  re-arrayed  his 
lacerated  and  bleeding  form  in  the  torn,  kingly 
robe,  which  John  had  removed  when  he  had 
taken  off  his  crown ;  but  now  they  replaced  both 
the  crown  and  the  robe,  and  once  more  went 


442          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

through  the  mockery  of  homage,  kneeling,  and 
hailing  him,  "King  of  the  Jews." 

All  this  Jesus  still  bore  with  godlike  majesty. 
Not  a  murmur  escaped  his  lips;  not  a  glance  of 
resentment  kindled  the  holy  depths  of  his  eyes, 
which,  from  time  to  time,  were  uplifted  to 
Heaven,  as  if  he  sought  for  help  and  strengta 
from  thence. 

Not  only  ^milius,  but  John,  was  now  sepa- 
rated from  him ;  but  my  uncle,  the  Rabbi,  stood 
near,  in  order  to  see  what  would  follow;  and  to 
use  his  influence,  if  possible,  to  induce  the  chief 
priests  to  abandon  the  idea  of  killing  him. 

"Good  Rabbi,"  said  Jesus  to  him,  "let  them  do 
with  me  what  they  list!  My  Father  hath  given 
me  into  their  hands.  I  die,  but  not  for  myself; 
I  can  keep  or  yield  up  my  life,  as  I  will." 

"Oh,  then,  dear  Master!"  cried  my  uncle,  "why 
not  save  thyself?  Why  shouldst  thou  suffer  all 
this,  and  death  also,  if  thou  hast  the  power  over 
thy  life?" 

"If  I  die  not,  then  were  ye  all  dead!  The 
Scripture  must  be  fulfilled,  which  spoke  of  me: 
'He  was  led  like  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter.' " 

Here  Rabbi  Amos  could  speak  no  more  to 
him,  for  the  crowd  dragged  his  off  out  of  the 
court  of  Gabbatha,  and  so  down  the  steep  street, 
in  the  direction  of  the  gate  of  the  kings,  that 
leads  to  the  Hill  of  Calvary,  the  public  place  of 
execution,  where  the  Romans,  since  they  have 
been  masters  of  Jerusalem,  have  executed  crimi- 
nals by  their  cruel  mode  of  crucifying.  At  the 
gate,  a  Roman  Centurion  took  him  into  custody, 


THE   1-mJSCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

under  arms,  and  escorted  him,  followed  by  the 
vast  multitude. 

Rabbi  Amos  accompanied  the  multitude,  keep- 
ing as  nigh  to  Jesus  as  the  Roman  soldiers,  who 
inarched  on  each  side  of  him,  would  let  him. 
On  the  way,  as  they  crossed  the  open  space 
where  once  stood  the  palace  and  statue  of  Antio- 
chus  Seleucus,  the  eyes  of  the  Rabbi  were  at- 
tracted by  the  cries  and  pointed  fingers  of  many 
of  the  people,  to  the  body  of  a  man  lying  dead  at 
the  foot  of  a  withered  fig-tree.  Upon  drawing 
nearer,  he  recognized  the  features  of  Judas,  who 
had  so  basely  betrayed  his  Master.  The  spec- 
tacle which  he  exhibited  was  revolting,  and  hor- 
rid to  look  upon.  About  his  neck  was  wound  a 
fragment  of  his  girdle,  the  other  half  being  still 
secured  to  a  limb  of  the  tree,  showing  how  he 
had  met  his  fate.  The  cord  had  broken  by  his 
weight,  and  being  a  fleshy  man,  he  had,  most 
dreadful  to  relate,  in  the  fall  burst  asunder,  and 
the  hungry  dogs  that  infest  the  suburbs,  were 
feeding  upon  his  bowels.  With  cries  of  horror, 
several  of  the  Jews  drove  them  away,  and  the 
Roman  Centurion,  whom  Pilate  had  ordered  to 
crucify  Jesus  for  the  Jews,  directed  four  of  his 
soldiers  to  convey  the  hideous  corpse  from  sight, 
and  see  that  it  was  either  burned  or  buried. 

"If,"  said  Rabbi  Amos  to  John,  who  now  re- 
joined him,  "if  the  accusers  of  Jesus  are  to  be 
punished  like  this  man,  this  will  be  a  fearful  day 
for  the  men  of  Jerusalem.  Judas,  the  betrayer, 
dies  before  his  victim  dies,  and  by  his  own  hand. 
This  looks  like  Divine  retribution,  and,  as  if 


44:4          THE   PRINCE   OP  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

Jesus  were,  in  truth,  the  favored  Prophet  of  the 
Highest." 

By  this  time,  the  people,  who  were  dragging 
Jesus  to  death,  were  got  out  of  the  gate,  where  a 
cross  of  heavy  cypress  was  obtained  by  the  Cen- 
turion, from  a  yard  near  the  lodge,  wherein  stood 
several  new  crosses,  awaiting  whatsoever  victims 
Roman  justice  might,  from  day  to  day,  condemn 
-to  death.  Two  others  were  also  brought  out, 
and  laid  upon  the  shoulders  of  two  men,  the  lieu- 
tenants of  Barabbas,  who  were  also  that  day  to 
be  crucified.  The  released  Barabbas  was  himself 
present,  and  the  most  active,  in  laying  the  cross 
upon  the  back  of  the  already  faint  and  drooping 
Jesus. 

By  the  time  the  great  crowd  had  passed  the 
gate,  it  was  known  throughout  all  Jerusalem, 
that  Pilate  had  given  orders  for  the  crucifixion  of 
the  Nazarene  Prophet;  and,  with  one  mind,  all 
who  had  known  him,  and  believed  in  him,  or 
loved  him,  left  their  houses,  to  go  out  after  him, 
to  witness  his  crucifixion;  for,  I  forgot  to  say, 
that  Caiaphas  had  promised,  if  Jesus  were  de- 
livered up,  his  followers  should  not  be  molested. 
Therefore,  every  person  went  out  of  the  gate 
towards  Calvary.  Mary,  his  mother,  my  cousin 
Mary,  Martha  and  her  sister,  Lazarus,  John,  and 
Peter,  and  Thomas,  and  some  women,  his  rela- 
tives from  Galilee,  and  many  others  also  went. 
When  we  had  got  without  the  walls,  we  seemed 
to  leave  a  deserted  city  behind  us.  As  far  as  the 
eye  could  embrace,  there  was  a  countless  multi- 
tude moving  along  the  vast  space,  between  the 
:Gate  of  the  Kings  and  Mount  Calvary.  Jesus 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          445* 

was  borne  in  front,  where  we  could  now  and  then 
catch  the  gleam  of  a  Roman  spear.  We  hast- 
ened to  get  near  him,  and,  with  difficulty,  made 
our  way  to  the  head  of  the  throng;  both  foes  and 
friends  giving  back,  when  they  saw  his  weeping 
mother  among  us. 

At  the  ascent  of  Calvary  we  found  that,  from 
some  cause,  the  course  of  the  mighty  current  of 
human  beings  was  checked.  We  soon  learned 
the  reason.  Jesus  had,  at  length,  sunk  to  the 
ground,  under  the  weight  of  the  wooden  beams 
on  which  he  was  to  die,  and  fainted. 

"He  is  dead !"  was  the  cry  of  those  about  him ; 
but,  as  we  drew  near,  he  was  reviving,  some  one 
having  offered  wine  to  his  lips,  and  poured  water 
upon  his  brow.  He  stood  up,  and  looking 
mildly  around,  and  meeting  his  mother's  gaze, 
he  said,  touchingly: 

"Weep  not!  Remember  what  I  have  often 
told  thee  of  this  hour,  and  believe!  The  sword 
pierces  through  thy  soul,  but  it  is  held  in  my 
Father's  hand.  Mine  hour  is  come." 

Thus  speaking,  he  smiled  upon  his  mother, 
and  upon  us,  with  a  certain  look  of  Divine  peace 
illuminating  his  countenance. 

Barabbas,  the  robber-chief,  who  had,  in  some 
degree,  taken  the  lead  of  the  mob,  now,  with  the 
aid  of  three  men,  raised  the  cross  to  the  should- 
ers of  Jesus,  and  ordered  him  to  move  on.  But 
the  young  victim  sank  at  once  beneath  the  load. 
Upon  this  they  were  at  a  loss  what  to  do;  for  it 
is  ignominious  for  Jew  or  Gentile  to  aid  in  bear- 
ing a  makfartor's  cross,  and  not  a  Roman  would 
touch  it;  and  the  Jews  would  not  for  fear  of  de- 


-446    THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

filement,  which  would  compel  them  to  be  set 
apart  afterwards  for  many  days'  purification. 
Barabbas  again  raised  Jesus  to  his  feet,  and  be- 
gan to  scourge  him,  to  make  him  drag  the  heavy 
beams  up  the  steep  of  Calvary.  But  he  had  no 
strength  to  advance  three  steps  with  it,  though 
he  made  the  effort  to  obey  his  tyrannous  execu- 
tioners. At  this  crisis  they  discerned  a  Syro 
Fhoenician  merchant,  Simon  of  Cyrene,  a  vener- 
able man,  well-known  to  all  in  Jerusalem,  and 
father  of  the  two  young  men,  Rufus  and 
Alexander,  who  were  followers  of  Jesus,  having* 
sold,  the  last  year,  all  they  had,  in  order  to  be- 
come his  disciples,  and  sit  at  his  feet,  and  listen 
to  his  Divine  teachings.  Their  father  was,  for 
this,  or  some  other  reason,  particularly  obnox- 
ious to  Caiaphas,  and,  on  seeing  him,  he  pointed 
him  out  to  the  Centurion,  "as  one  of  the  Naza- 
renes,"  and  suggested  that  he  should  be  com- 
pelled to  bear  the  cross  after  him. 

The  Cyrenian  merchant  was  at  once  dragged 
from  his  mule,  and  led  to  the  place  where  the 
cross  lay,  believing  he  was  about  to  be  himself 
executed.  But  when  he  beheld  Jesus  standing, 
pale  and  bleeding,  by  the  fallen  cross,  and  knew 
what  was  required  of  him,  he  burst  into  tears, 
and  kneeling  at  his  feet,  said: 

"If  they  compel  me  to  do  this,  Lord,  think  not 
that  I  aid  thy  death!  I  know  that  thou  art  a 
Prophet  come  from  God!  If  thou  diest  to-day, 
Jerusalem  will  have  more  precious  blood  to  an- 
swer for  than  the  blood  of  all  her  prophets." 

"We  brought  thee  here  not  to  prate,  old  man, 
but  to  work/  Thou  art  strong-bodied,  Upwitft 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          447 

> 

this  end  of  the  cross,  and  go  on  after  him!"  cried 
the  chief  priests. 

Simon,  who  is  a  powerful  man,  though  three- 
score years  of  age,  raised  the  extremity  of  the 
beam,  and  Jesus  essayed  to  move  under  the 
weight  of  the  other;  but  he  failed. 

"Let  me  bear  it  alone,  Master,"  answered  the 
stout  Simon;  "I  am  the  stronger.  Thou  hast 
enough  to  bear  the  weight  of  thine  own  sorrow. 
If  it  be  a  shame  to  bear  a  cross  after  thee,  I  glory 
in  my  shame,  as  would  my  two  sons,  were  they 
here  this  day." 

Thus  speaking  in  a  courageous  and  bold  voice, 
and  looking  as  brave  as  if  he  would  as  gladly  be 
mailed  to  the  cross  for  his  Master  as  carry  it 
after  him  (for  Simon  had  long  believed  in  him, 
as  well  as  his  sons),  he  lifted  the  cross  upon  his 
shoulders,  and  ascended  the  steep  after  Jesus, 
who,  weak  from  loss  of  blood  and  of  sleep,  and 
weary  unto  death,  had  to  lean,  for  support, 
against  one  arm  of  the  instrument  of  death. 

Ah,  my  dear  father,  what  a  place  was  this,  up 
which  we  climbed!  Skulls  lay  scattered  beneath 
our  footsteps,  and  everywhere  human  bones 
bleached  in  the  air;  and  we  trode  in  heaps  of 
ashes,  where  the  Romans  had  burned  the  bodies 
of  those  whom  they  crucified. 

At  length  we  reached  the  top  of  this  hill  of 
death,  on  which  five  crosses  were  already  stand- 
ing. Upon  one  of  them  a  criminal  still  hung, 
just  alive,  who  had  been  nailed  to  it  the  noon  be- 
fore. He  called  feebly  for  water,  but  some  de- 
rided, and  all  passed  him  unheeded.  There  was 
an  empty  space  on  the  summit,  and  here  the  Cen- 


*48          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

turion  stopped,  and  ordered  the  crosses  to  be  set 
in  the  rock,  whjere  deep  holes  had  been  already 
cut  for  them.  The  crosses  carried  by  the  thieves 
were  now  thrown  down  by  them ;  by  one  with  an 
execration,  by  the  other  with  a  sigh,  as  he  anti- 
cipated the  anguish  he  was  to  suffer  upon  it. 

The  larger  cross  of  the  three  was  that  for 
Jesus.  It  was  taken  by  three  soldiers  from  the 
back  of  the  old  Cyrenian  merchant,  and  thrown 
heavily  upon  the  earth.  It  was  now  that  a  crisis 
approached,  of  the  most  painful  interest.  The 
Centtirion  ordered  his  soldiers  to  clear  a  circle 
about  the  place,  where  the  crosses  were  to  be 
planted,  with  their  spears.  The  Jews,  who  had 
crowded  near,  in  eager  thirst  for  their  victim's 
"blood,  gave  back  slowly  and  reluctantly,  before 
the  sharp  points  of  the  Roman  lances,  pushed 
against  their  breasts;  for  the  Centurion  had  with 
him  full  three-score  men-at-arms,  besides  a  part 
of  Herod's  guard.  So  great  was  the  desire  of 
the  Jews  to  get  near,  that  helpless  females  could 
not  be  otherwise  than  crowded  away  from  the 
immediate  scene.  John,  however,  held  his  place 
dose  by  his  Master.  He  relates  that  Jesus  con- 
tinued to  evince  the  same  sublime  composure 
when  the  Centurion  commanded  the  crucifiers  to 
advance  and  nail  the  malefactors  to  their  crosses. 
The  robber-lieutenant,  Ishmerai,  who  was  an 
Edomite,  upon  seeing  the  man  approach  with 
the  basket  containing  the  spikes  and  hammers, 
«cowled  fiercely  upon  him,  and  looked  defiance. 
He  was  instantly  seized  by  four  savage-looking 
Parthian  soldiers,  of  the  "Roman  guard,  and 
stripped,  and  thrown  upon  his  back  upon  the 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  449 

cross.  His  struggles,  for  he  was  an  athletic  man, 
were  so  violent,  that  it  took  six  persons  to  keep 
him  held  down  upon  the  arms  of  the  cross,  and 
his  palms  spread  open,  to  receive  the  entering" 
nail ;  which  one  of  the  crucifiers,  with  naked  and 
jbrawny  arms,  by  pressing  one  knee  upon  the 
wrist,  drove  in,  through  the  flesh  and  wood,  with 
three  quick  and  powerful  blows,  with  his  short, 
heavy-headed  hammer.  Ishmerai  gnashed  his 
teeth  as  the  nail  entered  the  quivering  flesh. 
The  other  hand,  in  like  manner,  was  fastened, 
with  difficulty,  to  the  other  arm  of  the  wood;  and 
then,  both  feet  being  lapped  together,  a  long, 
sharp  spear-nail  was  driven  through  both  into 
the  timber,  while  a  shriek,  mingled  with  curses, 
bore  testimony  to  the  agony  suffered  by  the 
wretched  man. 

Thus  secured,  he  was  left,  bleeding  and  writh- 
ing, by  the  six  crucifiers;  for  there  are  four  to 
bind  the  victim,  one  to  hold  the  spikes,  and  the 
sixth  to  drive  them  home  with  his  hammer;  and 
from  the  glance  I  caught  of  their  half-naked  and 
blood-stained  figures,  they  were  worthy  to  hold 
the  dreadful  office,  which  made  all  men  shun 
them  as  if  they  were  leprous. 

They  now  approached  Omri,  the  other  robber, 
who  was  a  young  man,  with  a  mild  look,  and  a 
face,  whose  noble  lineaments  did  not  betray  his 
profession.  He  was  the  son  of  a  wealthy  citizen 
in  Jericho,  and  had,  by  riotous  living,  spent  his 
patrimony,  and  joined  Barabbas.  He  had  heard 
Jesus  preach  in  the  wilderness  of  Jordan,  and  had 
once  asked  hiin.  with  deep  interest,  manv  things 
touching  the  doctrines  he  taught.  John,  who 


450  THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

had  seen  him  talking  with  Jesus,  a  few  months 
before,  at  Bethabara,  now  recognized  him,  and 
saw  him  regard  the  Prophet  with  reverential 
looks ;  and  more  than  once  heard  the  latter  speak 
kind  words  to  him  as  they  climbed  the  hill. 

When  the  crucifiers,  with  their  cords,  baskets, 
nails,  and  iron  hammer,  drew  near  him,  he  said: 

"I  will  not  compel  you  to  throw  me  down,  I 
can  die  as  I  have  lived,  without  fear!  As  I  have 
broken  the  laws,  I  am  ready  to  suffer  the  penalty 
•of  the  laws." 

Thus  speaking,  he  stretched  himself  upon  his 
cross,  and  extending  his  palms  along  the  trans- 
verse beams,  he  suffered  them  to  nail  him  to  the 
wood,  uttering  not  a  moan.  He  glanced  towards 
Jesus  at  the  same  time,  with  an  expression  of 
courage,  as  if  he  sought  to  show  him  that  the 
pain  could  be  borne  by  a  brave  man.  And,  per- 
haps, indeed,  Jesus  looked  as  if  he  needed  a 
heroic  example  before  him  to  show  him  how  to 
die  without  shrinking,  for  his  cheek  was  like  the 
marble  of  Paros,  in  its  whiteness,  and  he  seemed 
ready  to  drop  to  the  earth  from  weakness.  His 
youth — his  almost  Divine  beauty,  which  not  even\ 
his  tangled  hair,  and  torn  beard,  and  blood- 
streaked  countenance,  could  wholly  hide — the 
air  of  celestial  innocence  that  beamed  from  his 
eyes,  drew  upon  him  many  glances  of  sympathy, 
even  from  some  of  his  foes.  The  Centurion,  who 
was  a  tall  man,  with  a  grizzly  beard,  and  with  the 
hardy  exterior  of  an  old  Roman  warrior,  looked 
upon  him  with  a  sad  gaze,  and  said: 

"T  do  not  see  what  men  would  hate  thee  for, 
:for  thou  seemest  more  to  be  a  man  to  love;  but 


THE   PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.          451 

I  must  do  my  duty,  and  I  hope  thou  wilt  forgive 
me  what  I  do.  A  soldier's  honor  is  to  obey." 

Jesus  smiled  forgiveness  upon  him  so  sweetly, 
that  the  stern  Roman's  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and 
he  placed  his  gauntleted  hand  to  his  face,  to  con- 
ceal his  emotion. 

"Pilate  would  not  do  this  crime,  were  there 
another  legion  or  two  with  him.  It  is  the  few- 
ness of  his  men-at-arms  that  compels  him  to 
please  these  howling  Jews." 

This  was  spoken  to  Jesus,  who  made  no  reply ; 
for,  at  this  moment,  the  crucifiers  drew  nigh,  to 
prepare  him,  by  stripping,  for  the  cross,  lying  at 
his  feet. 

But,  my  dear  father,  I  can  go  on  no  farther 
now  with  my  narrative.  I  am  weary,  weeping 
at  the  sad  recollections  it  calls  before  me,  and  at 
our  present  affliction.  In  my  next  I  will  give 
you  an  account  of  the  unhappy  crucifixion  of  the 
Prophet  of  Nazareth,  and  with  him,  the  cruci- 
fixion and  death  of  all  our  hopes  in  him  as  Mes- 
sias  of  God. 

Your  affectionate  daughter, 

ADINA 


LETTER    XXXV. 

Jerusalem,  Third  Morning  after  the  \ 

Crucifixion,  j 

My  Dear  Father: — It  is  now  dawn,  and  I  have 
arisen  early,  as  I  shall  leave  the  city  to-day,  with 
my  Uncle  Rabbi  Amos,  and  the  whole  family,  to 
go  to  Bethany,  to  escape  the  Jews,  who  are  dili- 
gently seeking  the  arrest  of  all  in  Jerusalem  who 
were  followers  of  the  slain  Prophet.  As  an  hour 
or  two  will  elapse  before  all  is  ready  for  our  safe 
departure,  I  will  occupy  the  interval  in  complet- 
ing my  narrative  of  the  crucifixion  of  Jesus ;  es- 
pecially as  Rabbi  Amos,  finding  I  have  been  so 
careful,  heretofore,  in  recording  all  things  con- 
cerning him,  desires  me  not  to  omit  any  particu- 
lars; as  my  account  may  hereafter  be  convenient 
to  refer  to,  and,  perhaps,  if  necessary,  be  laid  be- 
fore Csesar,  in  defence  of  such  as  may  be  sent  to 
Rome  on  charges  of  sedition.  I  feel  that  my 
poor  letters,  dear  father,  are  only  valuable  to  you, 
and  those  I  love;  but,  if  they  can  aid  in  explain- 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  Oi    DAVID.          453 

Ing  anything  for  the  exculpation  of  the  poor 
iSjazarenes,  who  are  now  so  despised,  and  vigi- 
lantly hunted,  they  are  at  the  service  even  of  the 
mighty  Tiberius  himself.  Their  only  merit  is  ac- 
curacy of  detail  and  truthfulness,  so  far  as  cir- 
cumstances have  enabled  me  to  ascertain  the 
truth. 

As  I  now  resume  my  pen,  to  continue  the  par- 
ticulars of  the  crucifixion  of  the  unhappy  son  of 
Mary,  who,  widowed  and  childless,  still  remains 
with  us,  mourning  over  her  slain  son,  my  heart 
involuntarily  shrinks  from  the  painful  subject, 
and  bleeds  afresh.  But  there  is  a  fascination  as- 
sociated with  all  that  concerns  him,  even  now 
that  he  is  dead,  and  has  proved  himself  as  weak  a 
mortal  as  other  men,  which  urges  me  to  write  of 
•him,  and  which  fills  my  thoughts  only  with  him. 

I  have  just  alluded  to  his  grief-smitten  mother. 
Alas!  there  is  no  consolation  for  her.  Her  loss 
is  not  like  that  of  other  mothers.  Her  son  has 
not  only  been  taken  from  her  by  death,  but  has 
died,  ignominiously,  on  a  Roman  cross,  executed 
between  two  vile  malefactors,  as  if  he,  himself, 
were  the  greatest  criminal  of  the  three;  and  not 
only  this,  but  executed  as  a  false  prophet — as  a 
deceiver  of  Israel — with  a  thousand  glittering 
promises  of  Jtidea's  future  glory  through  him, 
on  his  lips ;  which  now,  as  his  death  proves,  were 
vain  promises,  and  that  he  made  them  to  deceive 
his  countrymen,  for  the  temporary  fame  of  draw- 
ing all  men  after  him.  She  thus  mourns,  not  as 
other  mothers,  and  refuses  to  be  comforted. 

Yet  her  love  for  her  son — that  deathless  ma- 
ternal lov«,  which  seems  immortal  in  its  nature, 


454  THE   I'KINCK    OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   DAVID. 

is  not  buried  with  him.  She,  with  dearest  Mary 
and  Martha,  have  just  gone  out,  secretly  before 
the  Jews  are  astir,  to  pay  the  last  duties  to  his 
dead  body,  ere  we  depart  for  an  asylum  in 
Bethany.  They  have  taken  spices,  myrrh,  and 
aloes,  and  sweet  herbs,  for  the  purpose  of  em- 
balming the  body;  for  his  mother  hopes  to  get 
permission  of  Pilate  to  remove  it  some  time  to 
Bethlehem,  to  be  laid  in  the  tomb  of  his  fathers. 
Until  they  return  from  this  sad  mission  of  love, 
I  will  continue  my  subject. 

When  the  Centurion,  to  whom  was  committed, 
by  Pilate,  the  charge  of  conducting  the  crucifix- 
ion of  Jesus,  gave  orders  to  bind  him  also  to  the 
cross,  which  lay  upon  the  ground,  like  an  altar 
awaiting  its  victim,  the  four  Parthian  soldiers, 
his  brutal  crucifiers,  laid  hold  upon  him,  and  be- 
gan to  strip  him  of  his  garments,  for  his  enemies 
had  put  on  him  his  own  clothes,  when  they  led 
him  out  of  the  hall  of  Pilate.  He  wore  a  mantle 
of  spotless  white,  woven  without  seam,  by  Mary 
and  Martha,  and  which  had  been  a  present  to 
him,  by  the  sisters,  as  a  token  of  their  gratitude, 
for  raising  from  the  dead  their  brother  Lazarus. 

When  I  saw  them  remove  this  robe,  which  was 
a  visible  attestation  of  his  former  power  over 
death,  I  could  not  believe  that  he  could  be  him- 
self killed:  but  would  yet  break  away,  by  some 
mighty  miracle,  from  his  foes,  and,  scattering- 
them,  like  dust  before  the  wind,  proclaim  himself. 
with  power,  the  very  Son  of  God!  But  when  I 
perceived  that  he  stood,  calmly  and  sorrowfully, 
letting  them  do  what  they  would,  I  lost  all  hope, 
and  turned  away  weeping.  His  mother,  sup- 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DA.TID.          455 

ported  by  John,  could  no  longer  gaze  upon  her 
son,  and  was  borne  afar  off,  crying  thrillingly: 

"Oh  let  me  not  hear  the  crashing  of  the  nails 
into  his  feet  and  hands!  My  son — my  son!  Oh, 
that  thou  wouldest  now  prove  to  thy  mother  that 
thou  art  a  true  prophet!" 

"What  means  this  wailing?"  cried  the  fierce 
Abner;  "who  is  the  woman?" 

"The  mother  of  Jesus,"  I  answered,  indig- 
jiantly. 

"The  mother  of  the  blasphemer.  Let  her  be 
accursed!"  he  cried  in  a  savage  tone;  "thou  seest, 
woman,  what  is  the  end  of  bringing  up  an  im- 
postor, to  blaspheme  Jehovah  and  the  Temple. 
Thy  hopes  and  his,  O  wretched  woman,  have  this 
day  miserably  perished!  So  die  all  false  Christs 
and  false  prophets!  Thou  seest,  if  he  were  the 
Christ,  he  would  not  stand  there,  and  be  cruci- 
fied, like  a  common  malefactor!" 

Mary  buried  her  face  in  her  hands,  and  wept 
on  my  shoulder.  She  felt  that  it  was  too  true! 
I  could  not  look  towards  the  place  where  Jesus 
stood.  I  dreaded  to  hear  the  first  blow  upon  the 
dreadful  nails,  and  as  she  stopped  her  ears,  I 
would  have  closed  mine  also,  but  that  my  hands 
supported  her.  I  could  hear  the  awful  prepara- 
tions— the  rattling  of  the  hard  cord,  as  they 
bound  him  to  the  cross,  and  the  low,  eager 
voices  of  the  four  busy  Parthians :  and  then  the 
rattling  of  the  spikes:  and  then  a  silence  like  that 
of  the  grave!  Suddenly  a  blow  of  a  hammer 
broke  the  moment  of  suspense!  A  shriek  burst 
from  the  soul  of  his  mother,  that  echoed  far  and 
wide,  among  the  tombs  of  Golgotha! 


466          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

I  could  see — hear  no  more!  John.has  told  me 
the  rest.  Leaving  the  stricken 'mother  with  me, 
he  and  Lazarus  drew  near  to  where  they  were 
unrobing  the  Prophet,  in  order  to  bind  him  to 
the  wood.  They  caught  the  eyes  of  their  Mas- 
ter, who  gazed  upon  them  calmly  and  affection- 
ately. They  said  they  had  never  before  beheld 
Jiim  appear  so  majestic  and  great!  He  looked, 
as  the  Centurion  afterwards  said,  "Like  a  god 
surrendering  himself  to  death,  for  the  safety  of 
his  universe!" 

Nothing  but  the  ferocious  madness  of  the 
Chief-Priests  and  Jews,  could  have  prevented 
them  from  being  awed  by  the  majesty  of  his 
presence.  And,  besides,  there  sat  upon  his  brow 
heroic  courage,  with  a  certain  divine  humility 
and  resignation.  Not  the  rough  hands  of  the 
barbaric  soldiers,  not  the  'ndignity  of  being 
stripped  before  the  eyes  of  thousands,  not  the 
sight  of  his  cross,  nor  of  the  thieves,  nailed  and 
writhing  on  theirs,  moved  him  to  depart,  by  look 
or  bearing,  from  that  celestial  dignity  which, 
through  all,  had  never  left  him. 

He  made  no  resistance  when  bound  upon  the 
cross,  but  resigned  himself,  passively,  into  the 
hands  of  his  executioners,  like  a  lamb,  receiving 
its  death.  "Father,"  he  said,  raising  his  holy 
eyes  to  Heaven,  "forgive  them,  for  they  know 
not  what  they  do."  But  his  heroic  soul  could 
not  prevent  the  natural  emotions  of  humanity  at 
pain.  The  piercing  nails,  rending  his  tender 
flesh,  made  it  quiver,  and  caused  him  to  turn 
deadly  pallid,  while  a  deep  sigh  escaped  his 
breast.  Unlike  the  first  robber,  he  did  not  re- 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  457 

sist;  unlike  the  second,  he  did  not  steel  himself 
to  indifference;  but  he  met  his  fate  like  a  man 
who  fears  not  death,  yet  does  not  brave  it! 

''Great  drops  of  sweat,  when  they  nailed  his 
feet  to  the  wood,  stood  upon  his  forehead,"  said 
John,  who  remained  near,  to  see  his  Master  die, 
and  to  comfort  and  strengthen  him;  "and  when 
the  four  men  raised  him  and  the  cross  together 
from  the  earth,  and  let  the  end  drop  into  a  hole 
a  foot  deep,  the  shock,  bringing  his  whole  weight 
upon  the  nails  in  his  hands,  tore  and  lacerated 
them,  nearly  dislocating  the  shoulders  at  the 
same  time,  while  every  sinew  and  muscle  of  his 
arms  and  chest  were  drawn  out  like  cords,  to  sus- 
tain this  unwonted  weight  upon  them.  The  first 
thief  fainted  from  pain,  at  the  shock  caused  by 
the  setting  of  his  own  cross ;  and  the  second,  cool 
and  defiant  as  he  had  been,  uttered  a  loud  outcry 
of  agony.  But  Jesus  made  no  moan,  though  the 
unearthly  pallor  of  his  countenance  showed  how 
inexpressible  was  his  torture. 

Ah,  my  dear  father,  I  would  draw  a  veil  over 
this  scene — for  it  is  too — too  painful  for  me  to 
dwell  upon.  To  the  last,  John  believed  his  Mas- 
ter would  not  die — that  he  could  not  suffer!  But 
when  he  saw  how  that  pain  and  anguish  seized 
heavily  upon  him,  and  how  that  he  suffered  like 
other  men,  without  power  to  prevent  it,  he 
greatly  wondered,  and  began  to  believe  that  all 
the  miracles  that  he  had  seen  him  perform  must 
have  been  illusions.  He  could  not  reconcile  the 
calmness  and  dignity^the  heroic  composure  and 
air  of  innocence,  with  which  he  came  to  the 


458          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

cross,  with  imposture;  yet  his  death  would,  as- 
suredly, seal  as  imposture  all  his  previous  career. 

The  three  crosses,  that  of  Jesus  in  the  midstr 
as  the  place  of  chief  dishonor,  being  raised  into 
the  air,  and  fixed  in  the  sockets  of  the  rock,  the 
Centurion  commanded  the  adjacent  space  to- 
be  cleared,  and  that  the  malefactors  be  left 
to  die.  Oh,  what  a  fearful  death  for  Jesus! 
for  him  whom  we  knew  so  well,  and  whom 
we  still  loved,  although  he .  had  deceived  us. 
There,  thought  we,  he  might  linger  two 
or  three  days,  dying  slowly,  as  some  have 
done,  and  exposed  to  the  fierce  sun  by  day, 
and  the  chilly  winds  of  night,  while  about  them 
hovered,  on  steady  wings,  the  savage  birds  of 
prey,  impatient  for  their  feast. 

Much  of  the  residue  of  the  account  I  have  from 
John,  who  remained  at  the  last  close  to  the  cross, 
while  we  stood  afar  off,  with  his  weeping  mother, 
Mary  of  Bethany,  Martha,  Lazarus,  and  Mary, 
the  mother  of  Salome,  and  other  women,  our 
friends  from  Galilee,  who  also  had  hope  in  Jesus. 
There  we  waited,  in  expectation  of  seeing  him 
do  some  mighty  miracle  from  the  cross,  and  de- 
scend unharmed,  showing  to  the  world,  thereby, 
his  title  to  be  the  Messias  of  God. 

The  Centurion  having  placed  a  guard  about 
the  crosses,  to  keep  the  friends  of  the  crucified 
from  attempting  their  rescue,  stood  watching 
them.  The  soldiers,  who  had  nailed  Jesus  to  the 
tree,  began  to  divide,  with  noisy  oaths,  his  gar- 
ments among  themselves,  afs  well  as  those  of  the 
two  thieves,  these  being,  by  the  Roman  law,  the 
fee  of  the  executioner.  This  division  being 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          459 

made,  after  some  time,  but  not  withoi  t  high 
talking,  and  drawing  of  their  long  Syrian  knives 
upon  each  other,  they  were  at  a  loss  what  to  do> 
with  the  large  white  mantle,  without  seam,  which 
the  sisters  of  Lazarus  had  woven  for  the  friend 
of  their  once  dead  brother.  A  group  of  the 
Roman  guard  being  seated  near,  astride  upc  n 
the  four  arms  of  a  fallen  cross,  playing  at  dice, 
suggested  that  the  Parthians  should  decide  by 
lot  whose  it  should  be.  This  the  latter  consented 
to,  and  taking  the  dice-boxes  in  their  bloody 
hands,  each  of  them  threw  thrice.  The  highest 
number  fell  to  the  most  ferocious  of  the  four  fel- 
lows, who,  taking  the  mantle,  wrapped  it  about 
his  huge  form,  and,  pacing  up  and  down  before 
the  people,  called,  in  a  loud  voice,  himself  a  great 
prophet,  and  asked,  in  his  broken,  barbarous 
tongue,  some  of  the  Jews  if  they  would  like  to 
have  him  foretell  their  fortunes.  At  this  they 
began  to  cry  out  upon  him,  and  stone  him,  as  a 
blasphemer — and  but  for  the  interposition  of  the 
Centurion,  a  tumult  would  have  been  made. 
The  soldier  then  proposed  to  sell  the  cloak, 
which  John  joyfully  purchased  of  him,  by  means 
of  the  jewels  of  several  of  the  women,  who  gladly 
took  rings  from  their  ears,  and  bracelets  from 
their  arms,  I  giving,  Hear  father,  the  emerald 
whicK  you  rJougfht  for  me  at  Cairo.  But  I  could 
not  see  the  robe,  which  Jesus  had  worn,  thus 
desecrated;  for  still,  oh'  yes,  still  we  love  him, 
even  in  his  death,  which  death  was  his  and  our 
infamy!  The  mother  of  Jesus  received  the  robe 
with  deep  emotions  of  gratitude  to  us  all.  But 


450  THE  PRINCE  OF  THE   HOUSE   OP  DAVID. 

now,  my  dear  father,  how  shall  I  describe  tfie 
scenes  and  events  that  followed? 

After  Jesus  had  hung  about  an  hour  upon  the 
cross,  ^milius  came  from  Pilate,  and  bore  the 
inscription,  which  it  is  usual  to  place  above  the 
heads  of  malefactors,  showing  their  name,  and 
the  crime  for  which  they  are  crucified.      Above 
the  head  of  Ishmerai  was  written,  in  Syriac: 
"Ishmerai,  the  Edomite." 
"A  Robber." 

Above  that  of  Omri  was  inscribed,  also,  on  a 
leaf  of  parchment,  in  the  same  tongue,  his  name, 
and  the  nature  of  his  crime,  which  was  that  of 
robbery  and  blood-shedding. 

Above  the  head  of  Jesus,  by  means  of  a  small 
ladder,  was  placed  this  inscription,  in  Greek, 
iatin  and  Hebrew : 

"This  is  Jesus, 
"The  King  of  the  Jews." 

When  the  wicked  Abner  read  this,  he  turned 
angrily  to  the  Centurion,  and  to  ^Emilius,  who 
stood  sadly  near  the  cross: 

"Write  not,  O  Roman,  that  he  is  'King  of  the 
Jews/  but  that  he  said  that  he  was  King  of  the 
Jews!" 

"I  have  placed  above  him  what  Pilate  has  or- 
dered to  be  written,"  answered  the  Centurion. 

Abner,  upon  this,  mounted  a  mule,  and  hast- 
•cned  into  the  city  to  the  Procurator,  and  laid  his 
complaint  before  him. 

""What  I  have  written,  I  have  written,  sir 
•yriest,"  we  have  heard  that  the  Procurator  coldly 
answered. 


THE  PRIXCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          461 

"But  you,  then,  have  crucified  this  man  for 
being  our  king,  which  we  deny!"  retorted 
Abner. 

"I  will  take  his  word,  before  that  of  all  the 
Jews  in  Caesar's  empire,"  answered  Pilate,  an- 
grily. "He  said  he  was  a  king;  and  if  ever  a 
king  stood  before  a  human  tribunal,  I  have  had 
a  true  and  very  king  before  me  to-day;  and  I 
have  signed  the  warrant  for  his  execution.  But 
his  blood  be  on  your  heads;  for  I  was  compelled 
to  do  this  deed,  or  lose  my  Procuratorship ;  for 
else  you  would  have  had  me  before  Caesar  as  a 
traitor.  Leave  my  presence,  Jew!  Have  I  not, 
against  my  own  convictions  of  justice  and  hu- 
manity, consented  to  gratify  your  thirst  for  this 
innocent  person's  blood?  What  more  do  you 
demand?  Is  he  not  hanged?  If  you  approach 
my  presence  more  on  this  subject,  by  the  gods  of 
Rome,  I  will  crucify  you,  and  ten  score  more!  I 
will  pile  a  hecatomb  to  his  manes!" 

Abner  left  his  presence  abashed,  and  returned 
to  the  hill  of  crucifixion.  The  Jews,  in  the  mean- 
while, mocked  Jesus,  and  wagged  their  heads  at 
him,  and  reminded  him  of  his  former  miracles 
and  prophecies. 

"Thou,  that  raisedst  Lazarus,  save  thyself  from 
death!"  said  a  Pharisee. 

"If  thou  art  the  Son  of  God,  prove  it,  by  com- 
ing down  from  the  cross!"  cried  the  leader  of  the 
Sadducees,  Eli. 

"Thou,  who  saidst  if  a  man  kept  thy  sayings 
he  should  never  see  death — let  us  see  if  thou 
canst  avoid  death  thyself!"  said  Iddo,  the  chief 
of  the  Essenes. 


462          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

"He  saved  others — himself  he  cannot  save!" 
mocked  Ezekias,  one  of  the  chief  priests. 

^Emilius,  finding  it  impossible  to  save  the 
Prophet  from  crucifixion,  had  come  out  to  guard 
him  from  the  usual  insults  of  the  rabble,  while  he 
was  dying.  He  had  now  lost  faith  in  Jesus  as  a 
Prophet,  but  he  loved  him  still  as  a  man,  and 
pitied  him  for  his  sufferings.  He  talked  with 
him,  and  earnestly  prayed  him,  as  he  hung,  if  he 
were  indeed  a  god,  to  show  his  power.  Jesus 
made  no  reply:  but,  shortly,  said,  in  a  faint 
voice, — 

"I  thirst." 

The  generous  knight  ran  and  filled  a  sponge 
with  the  preparation  of  sour  wine  and  hyssop, 
usually  given  to  malefactors,  after  they  have  suf-. 
fered  awhile,  in  order  to  stupify  them,  and  render1 
them  insensible  to  their  sufferings.  While 
JEmilius  was  affixing  a  sponge,  dipped  in  this 
vessel  of  vinegar,  upon  a  reed,  split  at  the  end  to 
hold  it  firmly,  Ishmerai,  who  all  the  while,  as  he 
hung,  had  uttered  execrations  upon  his  cruci- 
fiers,  and  upon  Pilate,  called,  howling  fiercely, 
to  Jesus: 

"If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  save  thyself  and 
us!  If  thou  didst  raise  a  man  once  from  the* 
dead,  thou  canst,  surely,  keep  us  from  dying! 
Thou  art  a  vile  wretch  if  thou  hast  power  as  a 
prophet,  and  will  not  use  it  for  me,  when  thou 
seest  how  heavy  I  am  of  body,  and  how  my  great 
weight  tortures  me,  with  infernal  racking  and 
rending  of  every  joint." 

But  Omri,  rebuking  his  fellow,  said: 

"Dost  thou  not  fear  God,  seeing  thou  art  in 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.1 


the  same  condemnation.  We  suffer  justly  for] 
our  crimes,  and  to-day  do  receive  the  due  reward 
of  our  transgressions;  but  this  young  man  hath 
done  nothing  amiss,  save  to  preach  against  the 
wickedness  of  the  priests,  and  for  being  holier 
than  they.  Lord,  I  believe  that  thou  art  the  Son 
of  God!  None  but  the  Christ  could  do  the 
works  thou  hast  done,  or  suffer  patiently,  as  thou 
art  doing.  Lord,  remember  me  when  thou  com-* 
est  into  thy  kingdom,  for  I  know  thou  wilt  go 
from  this,  thy  cross,  to  thy  throne,  and  ther^ 
reign  for  ever  and  ever.  I  have  listened  to  thy* 
teaching  on  the  banks  of  Jordan,  and  now  be- 
lieve." 

Jesus  turned  his  bleeding  head  towards  him, 
fend,  with  a  smile  of  ineffable  glory  radiating  his 
pale  face,  said: 

"Verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  this  day  shalt  thou  be 
\vith  me  in  Paradise." 

Omri,  upon  this,  looked  inexpressibly  happy, 
and  seemed  to  rise  superior  to  his  sufferings. 
The  other  cursed  the  Prophet  aloud,  and! 
gnashed  at  him  with  his  teeth,  with  demoniacal 
hatred. 

At  this  moment,  ^Emilius  came  near  with  his 
dripping  sponge,  and  presented  the  reed  upwards 
to  the  parched  lips  of  the  suffering  Jesus.  When1 
he  tasted  it,  he  would  not  drink,  for  he  perceived 
'it  was  the  opiate  which  was  usually  given  in 
compassion,  to  shorten  the  anguish  of  the  cruci- 
fied. 

The  robber,  Ishmerai,  now  eagerly  cried  for 
the  sponge,  and  the  prefect  giving  the  reed  to  a 
soldier,  the  latter  placed  it  to  the  mouth'  of  the 


464          THE   PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE   OK  DAVID. 

robber,  whose  swollen  tongue  protruded,  and  he 
drank  of  it  with  a  sort  of  mad  thirst.  The  other 
man,  also,  gladly  assuaged  his  burning  fever  with 
it,  and  soon  both  of  them  sunk  into  insensibility, 
hanging  unconscious  of  their  situation,  and 
showing  no  other  signs  of  life  than  the  heavings 
of  their  chests,  arid,  from  time  to  time,  the  in- 
voluntary twitching  of  their  muscles.  But 
Jesus  retaining  his  senses,  in  all  their  clearness, 
suffered  all  that  such  a  fearful  death  imposes 
upon  its  victim. 

All  at  once,  just  as  the  sixth  hour  was  sounded 
from  the  Temple,  by  the  trumpets  of  the  Levites, 
a  cloud,  which,  formed  by  the  smoke  of  the 
numerous  sacrifices,  had  hung  all  day  above  the 
Temple,  was  seen  to  become  suddenly  of  inky 
blackness,  and  to  advance  towards  Calvary, 
spreading  and  expanding  in  the  most  appalling! 
manner,  as  it  approached  us;  and  in  a  few  min- 
utes, not  only  all  Jerusalem,  but  Calvary,  the 
Valley  of  Kedron,  the  Mount  of  Olives,  and  all" 
the  country  were  involved  in  its  fearful  darkness. 
The  sun,  which  had  before  been  shining  with 
noon-day  brilliancy,  became  black  as  sackcloth 
of  hair,  and  a  dreadful,  unearthly,  indescribable 
night  overshadowed  the  world.  Out  of  the 
centre  of  the  cloud,  above  the  crosses,  shot  forth1 
angry  lightnings  in  every  direction.  But  there 
was  no  thunder  attending  it — only  a  dead,  se- 
pulchral, suffocating  silence. 

Of  the  thousands  who  had  been  gazing  upon 
the  crucifixion,  every  one  was  now  prostrate 
upon  the  earth  in  terror!  Jerusalem  was  blotted! 
out  from  our  view;  only  an  angry  spot  of  fire-, 


THE   PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID.          465 

re4  light,  as  it  were  the  terrible  eye  of  God  it- 
self, was  visible  above  the  Temple,  over  the  place 
of  the  Holy  of  Holies.  The  crosses  soon  were 
no  longer  visible,  save  by  the  fearful  shine  of  the. 
lightnings,  flashing  fiercely  from  the  dread  and 
silent  cloud.  The  form  of  Jesus,  amid  the  uni- 
versal gloom,  shone  as  if  divinely  transfigured^ 
and  a  soft  halo  of  celestial  light  encircled  his 
brow  like  a  crown  of  glory ;  while  the  dark  bodies 
of  the  two  robbers  could  scarcely  be  discerned, 
save  by  the  faint  radiance  emanating  from  his 
own. 

The  darkness  continuing,  many  of  the  multi- 
tude at  length  ceased  their  moans,  and  the  beat- 
ing of  their  breasts,  and  rending  their  garments^ 
and  arose  to  their  feet;  but  moved  not;  for  none 
could  stir  from  his  place,  for  the  midnight  depth 
of  gloom.  They  talked  to  each  other  in  whis- 
pers. An  undefinable  dread  was  upon  each 
mind.  The  sudden  overspreading  of  the  dark- 
ness was  unaccountable  as  it  was  frightfuL 
Mary,  his  mother,  and  Lazarus  said,  with  awe, 
both  speaking  together: 

"This  is  his  power.  He  has  produced  this 
miracle!" 

''And  we  shall  behold  him  next  descend  from 
the  cross,"  said  Rabbi  Amos.  "Let  us  all  take 
courage;  and  let  what  dismays  his  enemies,  fill 
us  with  joyful  expectation." 

Three  hours — three  long  and  awful  hours,  this 
supernatural  night  continued;  and  all  that  while 
the  vast  multitude  remained  fixed,  and  waiting 
they  knew  not  what.  At  length  the  cloud  above 
jthe  cross  parted,  with  a  loud  per>1  of  thunder, 


466          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

•while  a  shower  of  terrible  lightnings  fell,  like 
lances  of  fire,  all  around  the  hanging  form  of 
Jesus,  which  immediately  lost  its  halo  and  its 
translucent  radiance.  His  face,  at  the  same  time, 
became  expressive  of  the  most  intense  sorrow  of 
soul,  and  he  seemed,  to  all  eyes,  to  be  the  central 
point  of  this  fierce  wrath  of  the  heavens. 

A  hundred  voices  exclaimed,  with  horror: 

"See!  he  is  deserted,  and  punished  by  the  Al- 
mighty!" 

We,  ourselves,  were  amazed  and  appalled. 
Our  rising  hopes  were  blasted  by  the  livid  light- 
nings, which  seemed  to  blast  him.  His  mother 
gave  utterance  to  a  groan  of  agony,  and  sank 
upon  the  ground,  satisfied  that  her  son  was  truly 
accursed  of  God.  At  this  moment,  as  if  to  con- 
firm all  our  fears,  he  cried,  in  the  Hebrew 
tongue,  with  a  loud  voice,  that,  in  the  deep 
silence,  reached  the  ears  even  of  the  Roman 
guard  on  the  citadel: 

•'Eloi!  Eloi!  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast 
Thou  forsaken  me!" 

Upon  this  some  ran  to  give  him  wine  and 
hyssop. 

"Nay,  let  him  live — let  us  see  if  Elias  will  save 
him !"  answered  Abner. 

Jesus  then  turned  his  head,  and  looked  affec- 
tionately upon  his  mother,  and  committed  her  to 
the  tender  care  of  John,  who  stood  supporting 
her  near  the  cross. 

Suddenly  the  darkness,  which  had  filled  all  the 
air,  seemed  now  to  concentrate,  and  gather  about 
the  cross,  so  that  he  became  invisible.  .  From 
the  midst  of  it  his  thrilling  voice  was  once  more 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          467 

heard,  as  clear  and  strong  as  it  rang  over  the 
waters  of  Galilee,  when  he  preached  from  a  boat 
to  the  thousands  thronging  the  shore: 

"It  is  finished !  Father,  into  thy  hands  I  com- 
mend my  spirit!" 

As  he  uttered  these  words,  a  supernatural 
glory  shone  around  him,  and,  with  a  deep  sigh, 
he  bowed  his  head  upon  his  breast  and  gave  up 
the  ghost. 

The  general  exclamation  of  surprise  that  fol- 
lowed these  clear,  trumpet-tones,  was  suddenly 
checked  by  a  terrible  trembling  of  the  earth  be- 
neath our  feet,  so  that  vast  numbers  of  people 
were  cast  down;  the  rocks  of  the  hill  of  Calvary 
were  rent,  and  thrown  upwards,  while  the  whole 
city  shook  with  the  convulsive  throes  of  an  earth- 
quake. The  temple  seemed  on  fire,  and  above 
its  pinnacle  appeared  a  flaming  sword,  which 
seemed  to  us  to  cleave  the  walls  to  their  founda- 
tions; and  while  we  looked,  the  sword  changed 
into  the  shape  of  a  cross,  of  dazzling  light,  stand- 
ing high  in  the  air,  over  the  altar;  and  from  its 
golden  beams  poured  rays  so  bright,  that  all 
Jerusalem,  and  the  hill  country,  for  a  wide  ex- 
tent, became  as  Tight  as  noon-day.  The  ground 
still  continued  to  rock,  and  the  sepulchres  of  the 
kings,  with  the  tombs  of  ancient  prophets,  were 
riven  by  vast  chasms,  and  the  green  earth  was 
strewn  with  the  bones  and  bodies  of  the  dead. 
The  dark  cloud,  which  had  begun  to  form  first 
with  the  smoke  of  the  Temple,  was  now  dissi- 
pated by  the  light  of  the  fiery  cross,  and  the  sun 
reappeared.  Before  it  the  glorious  vision  over 
the  Temple  gradually  faded  out  and  disappeared. 


468          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

The  natural  order  of  things  gradually  returned; 
and  men,  smiting  their  breasts,  began  to  move 
towards  the  city,  filled  with  awe  and  dread  at 
what  they  had  witnessed.  The  Centurion,  who 
stood  watching  these  fearful  things,  said,  aloud, 
to  /Emilius: 

"This  man  spake  the  truth.  He  was  a  God !" 
"Truly,"  responded  Emilius,  "this  was  none 
other  than  the  Son  of  God — the  very  Christ  of 
the  Jewish  Prophets.  All  things  in  the  air  and 
on  the  earth  sympathize  with  his  death,  as  if  he 
were  the  very  God  of  nature  who  has  expired." 

Sad  and  weeping,  we  left  the  dismal  scene, 
hanging  our  heads  in  despondency,  having,  while 
wondering  at  these  mighty  events  associated 
with  his  crucifixion,  abandoned,  forever,  all  hope 
that  this  was  He,  who  should  have  redeemed  our 
nation,  and  restored  the  royal  splendor  of 
Judah,  the  throne  of  the  house  of  David. 

I  am,  my  .dear  father,  your  loving  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER   XXXVI. 

Jerusalem^  Third  Morning  after  the  \ 

Crucifixion.  J 

My  Dearest  Father: — I  closed  the  last  letter, 
but  to  resume  in  another  the  sad  narrative  which 
I  have  been  writing  to  you.  It  is  now  half  an 
hour  to  sunrise,  and  as  the  party  who  went  to 
the  sepulchre  have  not  yet  returned,  I  will  still 
continue  my  painfully  interesting  subject.  The 
mother  of  Jesus,  who  I  thought  went  with  the 
two  Mary's  and  Martha,  remained  at  home  un- 
able to  bear  the  sight  of  her  dead  son. 

On  the  day  on  which  the  wonderful  events 
took  place,  which  I  have  detailed  at  large  in  my 
last  letter,  that  day  which  can  never,  for  its  signs 
and  wonders,  be  forgotten  in  Jerusalem,  the  chief 
priests,  at  the  head  of  whom  was  Abijah,  met 
Pilate  as  he  was  riding  forth  from  the  city,  at- 
tended by  a  score  of  men  at  arms,  to  survey  the 
deep  rents  made  by  the  earthquake,  and  to  hear 
from  the  mouths  of  all  the  people  the  particulars 


470          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

of  the  marvels  which  attended  the  crucifixion  of 
Jesus.  When  they  came  near  him,  they  be- 
sought him  that  he  would  command  his  soldiers 
to  take  down  the  bodies,  as  the  next  day  was  a 
high-day,  and  that  it  was  contrary  to  their  cus- 
toms to  have  criminals  executed  or  left  hanging 
on  that  day. 

"What  think  ye?"  demanded  Pilate,  reining 
up  and  soothing  his  Syrian  war-horse,  which, 
startled  at  the  dead  bodies  that  lay  near  (for  they 
were  crossing  the  place  of  open  tombs),  had  for 
some  time  tramped  and  plunged  madly:  "What 
think  ye,  priests!  Have  you  crucified  a  common 
man! — or  a  God?  We  think  these  mighty  won- 
ders tell  us  that  he  was  more  than  a  man!  All 
nature  sympathizes  with  his  death!  The  sun 
veiled  his  brightness,  the  heavens  clad  them- 
selves in  mourning,  the  gods  sent  forth  angry 
lightnings;  and  the  earth  herself  heaved  and 
rocked  as  if  sharing  the  universal  woe!" 

The  priests  loked  troubled,  and  seemed  un- 
able to  answer:  but  Tereh,  the  chief  priest  of  the 
house  of  Mariah,  answered,  and  said: 

"My  lord,  these  were  wonderful  phenomena, 
but  they  would  have  happened  if  this  Nazarene 
had  not  died!  Here  is  a  famous  astrologer  from 
Arabia,  who  studies  the  skies,  who  says  that  the 
darkness  was  caused  by  an  eclipse  of  the  sun, 
and  the  dark  cloud  was  but  the  smoke  of  the 
sacrifices,  and  the  earthquake  was  but  a  natural 
and  usual  occurrence!" 

"Stay,  sir  priest,"  answered  Pilate:  "we  at 
Rome,  though  called  barbarians  by  you  polished 
Jews,  have  some  scholarship  in  astrology.  We 


THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          471 

know  well  that  an  eclipse  of  the  sun  can  take 
place  only  when  the  moon  is  new!  It  is  to-day, 
on  this  thy  feast  day,  at  its  full,  and  will  to-night 
rise  opposite  the  sun!  It  was  no  eclipse,  sir 
priest,  and  thy  Arabian  is  a  false  astrologer. 
These  events  occurred  because  that  man,  your 
king,  has  been  executed." 

"Why  not  for  the  two  robbers  as  well?"  de- 
manded Abner,  with  an  incredulous  sneer  on  his 
lip. 

Pilate  made  no  answer,  and  was  riding  on, 
when  Tereh,  in  behalf  of  the  chief  priests,  asked 
permission  to  have  the  bodies  of  the  crucified 
removed  from  the  crosses  and  buried. 

"He  cannot  be  yet  dead,  since  it  is  only  seven 
hours  since  he  was  nailed  to  the  cross,"  said 
Pilate;  "I  will  see  for  myself." 

Thus  speaking,  the  Roman  Procurator  spurred 
on  towards  the  top  of  the  hill,  followed  by  his 
body-guard;  now  avoiding  an  open  grave;  now 
leaping  one  of  the  freshly  opened  chasms;  now 
turning  aside  from  some  body  cast  up  by  the 
earthquake.  When  he  came  in  front  of  the 
crosses,  he  saw  that  Jesus  hung  as  if  dead,  while 
the  thieves  still  breathed,  and  from  time  to  time 
heaved  groans  of  anguish,  although  partly  in- 
sensible from  the  effects  of  the  opiate  which  had 
been  administered  to  them. 

"Think  you,  Romulus,  that  he  has  any  life  in 
him?"  asked  Pilate,  in  a  subdued  tone  of  voice, 
gazing  sorrowfully,  and  with  looks  of  self-re- 
proach, upon  the  drooping  form  of  his  victim. 

"He  is  dead,  an  hour  ago,"  answered  the  Cen- 
turion. "He  expired  when  the  earthquake  shook 


472          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

the  city,  and  the  flaming  sword  was  unsheathed 
in  the  air  above  the  Temple!  It  was  a  fearful 
sight,  sir,  and  the  more  wonderful  to  see  it 
change  in  the  shape  of  a  cross  of  fire.  I  fear,  sir, 
we  have  crucified  one  of  the  Gods  in  the  shape 
of  a  man." 

"It  would  appear  so,  Centurion,"  answered 
Rlate,  shaking  his  head.  "I  v/ould  it  had  not- 
been  done!  But  'tis  past!  The  Jews  desire 
their  bodies  to  be  removed  before  their  great 
Sabbath.  Caesar's  orders  are  that  they  shall  be 
humored  always  in  all  things  touching  their  re- 
ligion, which  do  not  mitigate  against  the  Im- 
perial laws  Let  them  have  their  desire.  The 
robbers  are  not  yet  dead!" 

"Nearly  so.  I  will  break  their  legs  and  re- 
move their  bodies,  your  excellency,"  answered 
the  Centurion. 

Pilate  then  turned  his  horse  and  rode  slowly 
and  sadly  away  from  the  spot.  Romulus  then 
gave  orders  to  his  soldiers  to  remove  the  bodies. 
One  of  them  with  a  battle-axe  approached  the 
robber  Omri,  and  at  two  blows  broke  his  knees. 
With  a  shudder  that  shook  the  cross,  he  ceased 
to  move.  The  first  blow  upon  the  limbs  of  Ish- 
merai  caused  him  to  open  his  eyes  and  to  growl 
a  half-intelligible  execution;  but  at  the  second 
stroke  his  huge  head  fell  upon  his  hairy  chest, 
and,  muitermg  a  curse  upon  his  executioners,  he 
the  next  moment  hung  there  dead!  When  the 
soldiers  came  to  Jesus  they  saw  that  He  was 
already  dead.  He  seemed  like  a  Phidian  statue 
of  the  whitest  marble  of  Paros.  His  polished 
limbs  \/ere  shaped  with  celestial  symmetry;  his 


PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          473 


go!3en  Hair  was  tossed  by  the  evening  breeze 
about  his  brow  and  shoulders;  his  divine  aspect 
death  could  not  mar;  and  the  contrast  he  pre- 
sented to  the  rough  forms  of  the  two  malefactors 
between  whom  he  hung,  struck  even  the  rude 
soldiers. 

"Let  us  not  break  his  legs,"  said  one  to  the 
other,  "it  were  sacrilege  to  mar  such  a  manly 
form." 

"Yet,  we  must  ensure  his  death  ere  he  be  taken 
away,"  responded  the  other.  "I  will  pierce  him 
to  make  sure  !" 

Thus  speaking,  he  directed  his  spear  to  the 
side  of  Jesus,  and  cleaved  the  flesh  to  his  heart. 
John,  who  stood  near,  and  saw  and  heard  all, 
upon  seeing  this  done,  bowed  his  head  to  the 
earth  in  total  abandonment  of  hope!  Until  that 
moment  he  had  believed  that  Jesus  would  revive 
and  descend  front  the  cross;  for  to  the  last  all  our 
faith  in  his  power  to  save  himself  was  firm, 
though  greatly  tried  when  we  saw  him  in  the 
hands  of  the  Roman  soldiers.  Even  when  we 
beheld  him  nailed  to  the  cross  we  did  not  give 
up  hope,  for  we  had  all  seen  him  raise  Lazarus 
dead,  and  felt  that  he  could  free  himself  from  the 
cross  alive  also.  And,  although  after  the  earth- 
quake, we  left  the  hill  and  returned,  sorrowing 
and  smiting  our  hearts,  into  the  city,  we  often 
lingered  and  looked  back  to  where  he  hung,  ex- 
pecting to  see  him  descend  from  it,  and  proclaim 
himself,  by  such  a  mighty  miracle,  the  Son  of 
God.  John,  first  having  delivered  the  mother  of 
Jesus  to  our  care,  and  many  of  the  women  and 
others  who  had  loved  and  followed  him,  re- 


474          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVIB. 

mained  long  watching  him,  and  expecting  some 
great  event. 

But  when  the  unhappy  disciple  saw  the  Roman 
spear  pierce  his  side,  his  own  heart  seemed  to  be 
pierced  also.  Hope  perished  forever!  Jesus 
was  dead — dead,  and  thus  proved  a  deceiver. 
Yet  his  emotions  were  not  of  anger,  but  of  sor- 
.row;  for  he  greatly  loved  him. 

When  he  raised  his  head  to  gaze  upon  his  cru- 
cified Master,  he  saw  flowing  from  the  rent  in  his 
side  two  fountains  together,  one  of  crimson 
blood,  the  other  of  crystal  water.  He  could  not 
believe  what  he  saw,  until  the  soldiers  and  the 
Centurion  also  saw  it,  and  expressed  aloud  their 
wonder  at  such  a  marvel. 

"Never  was  such  a  man  crucified  before,"  ex- 
claimed the  Centurion.  "He  is  without  doubt 
one  of  the  immortal  Gods,  and  therefore  have 
the  heavens  and  earth  been  moved  with  amaze- 
ment at  the  deed!" 

When  John  saw  that  Jesus  was  indeed  dead, 
and  all  hope  of  his  restoration  to  life  was  de- 
stroyed, he  drew  near,  and  asked  permission  of 
the  Centurion  to  be  allowed  to  have  the  body; 
for  he  had  promised  the  mourning  mother  of  the 
dead  son  that  he  would  recover  it,  if  possible,  for 
sacred  burial.  But  the  Centurion,  though  a  kind 
and  generous  man,  answered  that  he  could  de- 
liver the  body  to  no  one  without  an  order  signed 
by  the  Procurator's  own  hand. 

Upon  this,  John,  after  getting  the  promise  of 
the  Centurion  that  the  body  should  not  be  taken 
down  until  his  return,  ran  rapidly  towards  the 
city  to  ask  the  consent  of  Pilate.  But  in  the 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.          475 

meanwhile,  Rabbi  Joseph,  the  counsellor  of 
Arimathea,  whom,  my  dear  father,  you  have, 
many  years  ago,  well  known  to  be  a  man  of 
probity  and  honor,  and  who  stands  high  in  favor 
with  Pilate,  met  him  as  he  was  skirting  the  wall 
of  the  city  with  his  cohort,  and  asked  him  if, 
when  Jesus  should  be  pronounced  to  be  dead,  he 
might  take  down  the  body  and  give  it  sepulture. 
Pilate  did  not  hesitate  to  give  his  ready  consent 
to  this  request,  and  taking  from  his  purse  a  small 
signet  engraved  with  his  cipher,  he  placed  it  in 
the  hands  of  the  rich  Rabbi. 

"Go  and  receive  the  body  of  this  wonderful 
man,"  he  said.  "Methinks  thou  art  one  who 
knew  him  well.  What  thinkest  thou  of  him, 
Rabbi?"  Joseph  perceived  that  Pilate  asked  the 
question  with  deep  interest,  and  seemed  very 
greatly  troubled  in  mind,  and  he  answered  him 
boldly: 

"I  believe  that  he  was  a  Prophet  sent  from 
God,  your  excellency,  and  that  to-day  has  died 
on  Calvary  the  most  virtuous,  the  wisest,  and  the 
most  innocent  man  in  Caesar's  empire." 

"My  conscience  echoes  your  words,"  answered 
Pilate,  gloomily;  and  putting  spurs  to  his  horse, 
he  galloped  forward  in  the  direction  of  the  Geth- 
semane  Gardens. 

John,  therefore,  did  not  see  Pilate,  and  on  re- 
turning from  the  city  weary  and  disappointed, 
he  met  the  ruler,  Nicodemus,  who,  attended  by 
one  of  his  Gibeonite  slaves,  was  hastening  into 
town  to  purchase  spices  and  linen  to  wrap  the 
body  in,  as  our  manner  is  to  bury.  From  him 
John  learned,  with  great  joy,  how  that  Rabbi 


476          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

Joseph  had  seen  Pilate,  and  obtained  from  hin 
permission  to  take  down  and  remove  the  body. 

When  John  reached  the  cross,  he  found  thai 
Joseph,  by  the  aid  of  Lazarus,  Simon  Peter. 
Mary,  Martha,  and  Rabbi  Amos,  had  taken  i: 
out  of  the  socket  in  the  rock,  with  its  precious 
burden,  and  gently  laid  it  upon  the  ground  with 
the  body  still  extended  upon  it.  With  many 
tears  and  lamentations  they  drew  forth  the  cop- 
per spikes  from  the  torn  hands  and  bleeding  feet, 
and  with  water  from  the  brook  Kedron,  washed 
the  enrnarbling  blood  away,  and  wrapped  the 
alabaster  limbs  in  the  spices  and  white  linen, 
which  Nicodemus  presently  arrived  with. 

The  bodies  of  the  robbers  in  the  meanwhile 
were  taken,  or  rather  torn  down  by  the  soldiers, 
and  cast  together  into  one  of  the  yawning  chasms 
rent  by  the  earthquake,  and  covered  by  frag- 
ments of  stone,  which  the  soldiers,  assisted  by 
some  of  the  baser  Jews  who  still  lingered  about 
the  place,  cast  down  upon  them. 

In  the  still,  holy  twilight  of  that  dread  day. 
the  west  all  shadowy  gold  and  mellow  light,  the 
air  asleep,  and  a  sacred  silence  reigning  in  hea- 
ven and  on  earth,  they  bore  away  from  the  hill 
of  death  the  body  of  the  dead  Prophet.  The 
shoulders  of  Nicodemus,  of  Peter,  of  Lazarus, 
and  of  John,  gently  sustained  the  loving  weight 
of  Him  they  once  honored  above  all  men,  and 
whom,  though  proved  by  his  'death,  to  have 
fatally  deceived  himself  as  to  his  Divine  Mission 
as  the  Christ,  yet  they  still  loved  for  his  sorrow 
so  patiently  borne,  for  his  virtues  so  vividly 
remembered. 


THE   PRINCE   OF   TB£   BOUSE   OF  DAVID.  477 

Slowly  the  little  group  wound  their  way  down 
the  rocky  sides  of  Golgotha,  the  last  to  leave  that 
fearful  place  in  the  coming  darkness.  Their 
measured  tread,  their  low  whispers,  the  subdued 
wail  of  the  women  who  followed  the  rude  bier  of 
branches,  the  lonely  path  they  trode,  all  com- 
bined to  render  the  spectacle  one  of  touching 
solemnity.  On  reaching  the  valley  between  the 
hill  and  the  city,  the  shades  of  evening  were 
gathering  thick  around  them.  They  took  secret 
ways  for  fear  of  the  Jews.  But  some  that  met 
them  turned  aside  with  awe  when  they  knew 
what  dead  corpse  was  borne  along;  for  the  im- 
pression of  the  appalling  scenes  of  the  day  had 
not  yet  wholly  passed  away  from  their  minds. 
At  length  they  reached  a  gate  in  the  wall  of  the 
garden  attached  to  the  noble  abode  of  the 
wealthy  Rabbi  Joseph,  who  went  before,  and 
with  a  key  unlocked  it,  and  admitted  them  into 
the  secluded  enclosure.  Here  the  thickness  of 
the  foliage  of  olive  and  fig  trees  created  complete 
darkness;  for  by  this  time  the  evening  star  was 
burning  like  a  lamp  in  the  roseate  west.  They 
rested  the  bier  upon  the  pavement  beneath  the 
arch,  and  awaited  in  silence  and  darkness  the 
appearance  of  torches,  which  Rabbi  Joseph  had 
sent  for  to  his  house.  The  servants  bearing 
them  were  soon  seen  advancing,  the  flickering 
light  from  the  flambeaux  giving  all  things  visible 
by  it  a  wild  aspect,  in  keeping  with  the  hour. 

"Follow  me,"  said  Joseph,  in  a  low  voice,  that 
was  full  charged  with  great  sorrow,  as  the  ser- 
vants preceded  him  with  their  torches. 

The  sad  bearers  of   the  dead  body  of  Jesus 


4V «  THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

raised  their  sacred  burden  from  the  ground,  and 
trode  onward,  their  measured  foot-falls  echoing 
among  the  aisles  of  the  garden.  At  its  farther 
extremity,  where  the  rock  of  Moriah  hangs  beet- 
ling over  the  valley,  and  forms  at  this  place  the 
east  wall  of  the  garden,  was  a  shallow  flight  of 
stone  steps  leading  to  a  new  tomb  hewn  out  of 
the  rock.  It  had  been  constructed  for  the  Rabbi 
himself,  and  had  just  been  completed,  and  in  it 
no  man  had  ever  been  laid. 

The  torches  flashed  brightly  upon  its  massive 
door,  and  upon  a  dark  cypress  tree,  the  branches 
-of  which  drooped  in  majestic  gloom  around  it. 
It  seemed  the  very  temple  and  shrine  of  death, 
.so  secluded — so  solemn — so  funereal  was  all ! 

The  servants,  by  command  of  Joseph,  rolled 
back  the  stone,  and  exposed  the  dark  vault  of 
the  gaping  sepulchre. 

"How  is  it,  most  worthy  Rabbi/  said  a  Ro- 
man Centurion,  suddenly  apprising  them  of  his 
presence  by  his  voice,  "that  you  bury  thus  with 
honor  a  man  who  has  proved  himself  unable  to 
keep  the  dazzling  promises  he  has  allured  so 
-many  of  you  with?" 

All  present  turned  with  surprise  at  seeing  not 
only  the  Centurion,  but  half  a  score  of  men-at- 
arms,  on  whose  helmets  and  cuirasses  the  torches 
brightly  gleamed,  marching  across  the  grass 
towards  the  spot. 

"What  means  this  intrusion,  Roman?"  asked 
Rabbi  Joseph. 

"I  am  sent  hither  by  command  of  the  Pro- 
curator," answered  the  Centurion;  "the  chief 
3>ws  have  had  an  interview  with  him,  informing 


THE  QUINCE   OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.  479 

him  that  the  man  whom  he  had  crucified  had 
foretold  that  after  three  days  he  would  rise  again. 
They  therefore  asked  a  guard  to  be  given  them 
to  place  over  the  sepulchre  till  the  third  day,  lest 
his  disciples  secretly  withdraw  the  body,  and  re- 
port that  their  master  is  risen.  Pilate,  therefore, 
has  commanded  me  to  keep  watch  to-night  with 
my  men." 

While  the  Centurion  was  speaking,  several  of 
the  priests  whom  Joseph  knew  drew  near,  bear- 
ing torches;  and  also  a  company  of  women  and 
relatives  of  Joseph  and  Mary,  who  had  heard 
where  they  were  entombing  the  body,  came  to 
see  the  place  wherein  he  was  laid. 

"We  bury  him  with  this  deference  and  respect, 
Centurion,"  answered  Rabbi  Joseph,  "because 
we  believe  him  to  have  been  deceived,  not  a  de- 
ceiver. He  was  gifted  by  God  with  vast  power, 
and  therefore  doubtless  believed  he  could  do  all 
things.  He  was  too  holy,  wise,  and  good  to  de- 
ceive. He  has  fallen  a  victim  to  his  own  wishes 
for  the  weal  of  Israel,  which  were  impossible  by 
man  to  be  realized.  We  do  this  honor  to  the 
memory  of  one  whom  to  know  was  to  love,  even 
though  we  are  disappointed  in  seeing  him  estab- 
lish the  kingdom  in  Judah." 

The  body  of  Jesus,  wrapped  in  its  shroud  of 
spotless  linen,  and  surrounded  by  the  preserving 
spices  of  Arabia,  was  then  borne  into  the  tomb, 
and  laid  upon  the  table  of  stone  which  Joseph 
had  prepared  for  his  own  last  resting-place.  By 
the  light  of  the  torches  all  present  took  a  last 
look  of  the  body,  even  the  women  of  Galilee 
also,  and  ere  they  closed  the  tomb,  Mary  of  Beth- 


480          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  BAVTO, 

any,  her  sister  Martha,  and  Lazarus,  also  ap- 
peared, to  gaze  a  tearful  farewell  upon  the  im- 
movable features  of  the  dead  Prophet,  for  a 
Prophet  since  the  remarkable  phenomena  at- 
tending his  death,  we  are  all  now  assured  he  must 
have  been;  and  that  we  have  misunderstood, 
from  their  divine  depth,  many  of  his  sayings  and 
prophecies  concerning  himself.  Simon  Peter 
was  the  last  to  quit  the  side  of  the  body,  by 
which  he  knelt  as  if  he  would  never  leave  it,  and. 
shedding  all  the  while  great  tears  of  bitter 
grief.  John  only  at  last  drawing  him  gently 
forth,  enabled  the  Centurion  and  soldiers  to  close 
the  heavy  door  of  the  tomb.  Having  secured  it 
evenly  by  revolving  it  in  its  sockets,  he  placed  a 
mass  of  wax  melted  by  a  torch  upon  each  side  of 
it  over  the  crevices,  and  stamped  each  with  the 
signet  of  the  Procurator,  which  to  break  is 
death. 

The  Jews  which  were  present,  seeing  that  the 
sepulchre  was  thus  made  sure  by  the  sealing  of 
the  stone,  and  by  the  presence  of  the  vigilant 
Roman  guard  of  eighteen  men,  took  their  de- 
parture. Rabbi  Joseph,  Nicodemus,  and  the 
rest  of  the  friends  of  Jesus,  then  slowly  retired, 
leaving  a  sentinel  pacing  to  and  fro  before  the 
tomb,  and  others  grouped  about  beneath  the 
trees  or  on  the  steps  of  the  sepulchre,  playing  at 
their  favorite  game  of  dice,  or  gazing  upon  the 
broad  moon  and  singing  their  native  Italian  airs ; 
yet  with  their  arms  at  hand  ready  to  spring  to 
their  feet  at  the  least  alarm  or  word  of  alert. 
The  tall,  mailed  figure  of  the  Centurion  standing 
motionless,  leaning  upon  the  hilt  of  his  long, 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  481 

straight  sword,  in  a  meditative  attitude  above  the 
tomb,  was  at  length  shut  out  from  the  view  of 
the  retiring  disciples,  by  the  angle  in  the  path 
which  turned  in  the  direction  of  the  gate. 
[Something  fearful  must  this  instant  have  hap- 
pened; for  the  house  has  just  shaken  as  if  with 
an  earthquake.  What  can  be  the  meaning  of 
these  wonders]?  Such,  my  dear  father,  is  the 
history  of  the  arrest,  trial,  judgment,  crucifixion, 
death,  and  burial  of  the  mighty  Nazarene  Proph- 
et. I  have  been  thus  particular,  not  only  to 
enable  you  to  see,  as  if  you  had  been  present  at 
all  that  passed,  but  also  at  the  request  of  my 
uncle,  Rabbi  Amos,  and  to  give  vent  to  my  own 
fulness  of  emotion.  It  was  also  due  to  myself 
who  have  believed  in  him  so  firmly,  to  show  that, 
although  he  was  crucified  and  is  dead,  the  extra- 
ordinary events  which  accompanied  his  crucifix- 
ion attested  that  he  was  more  than  a  man,  if  not 
the  true  Messias;  and  that,  therefore,  there  is  ex- 
cuse not  only  for  me,  for  being  his  disciple,  but 
for  all  others  who  followed  him.  You  can  also 
perceive,  my  dear  father,  from  the  honorable  man- 
ner in  which  he  was  buried  by  the  eminent  coun- 
cillor, Rabbi  Joseph,  of  Arimathea,  that  he  was 
deemed  by  him  innocent  of  any  crime  worthy  of 
such  a  death ;  and  that  he  believed  him  to  have 
been  deceived,  rather  than  a  deceiver. 

It  is  this  view  of  his  character,  combined  with 
his  patience,  his  dignity,  his  forbearance,  his  air 
of  divine  innocence  on  his  trial,  which  makes  us 
all  still  think  and  talk  of  him  with  tenderness  and 
tears.  All  that  remains  to  us  of  him  is  his  body, 


482          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

and  to  this  we  have  paid  the  homage  of  our  rever- 
ential affection. 

This  morning  Mary  and  Martha,  with  others, 
have  gone  to  visit  his  tomb  in  Joseph's  garden  (as 
I  have  already  said),  for  the  purpose  of  embalm- 
ing it;  and  on  their  return  we  are  to  go  to  Beth- 
any for  a  few  days  until  the  violent  hostility  of 
the  Jews  to  his  followers  subsides.  The  Pro- 
curator is  daily  looking  for  four  legions  of  Ro- 
man soldiers  from  Syria  as  a  reinforcement,  when 
he  will  be  able  to  protect  us,  and  maintain  com- 
pletely the  supremacy  of  the  Roman  power.  Oh, 
that  these  forces  were  here  on  the  day  of  the 
crucifixion,  for  then,  says  Rabbi  Amos,  Pilate, 
conscious  of  military  strength,  would  have  acted 
freely,  and  saved  Jesus  from  their  hands. 

I  hear  now  the  voices  of  Mary  and  Martha,  in 
the  court  of  the  street  returning  from  the  tomb. 
They  are  pitched  to  a  wild  note  of  joy!  What 
can  mean  the  commotion — the  exclamations — 
the  running  and  shouting  all  through  the  corri- 
dors and  court!  I  must  close  and  fly  to  learn 
what  new  wonder  has  occurred. 

In  haste,  your  affectionate  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER    XXXVII. 

Jerusalem,  First  Day  of  the  Week. 
Father,  my  Dear  Father: — How  shall  I  make 
known  to  you  in  words,  the  marvellous,  joyous, 
happy,  happy,  and  most  wonderful  news  which  I 
have  to  tell!  My  heart  beats,  my  hand  trembles 
with  rapture,  while  a  sense  of  profound  awe  im- 
presses all  my  soul.  Jesus  is  alive!  Jesws  has 
risen  from  the  dead!  Jesus  has  proved  himself 
to  be  the  Son  of  God!  Oh,  now  we  know  that 
Jesus  is,  indeed,  the  Messias  who  should  come! 
Oh,  that  1  could  have  doubted!  Alas!  that  I 
should  have  written  to  you  such  words  of  dis- 
belief and  of  doubt,  and  have  thought  him  in  my 
heart  a  deceiver!  But  I  have  seen  him,  and  he 
has  forgiven  me!  None  of  us  understood  his 
words,  which  he  spake  to  us  before  his  cruci- 
fixion, concerning  his  death,  and  hence  all  our 
consternation  and  despair.  But  now  we  clearly 
perceive  the  meaning  of  all,  and  are  amazed  at 
our  dullness  and  disbelief.  HTs  death,  to  our  br- 


484          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE    HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

nighted  apprehensions,  seemed  the  seal  to  a  life 
of  falsehood:  the  proof  that  he  was  a  false  proph- 
et, rather  than,  as  we  now  know  it  to  be,  a 
proof  of  his  being  the  Son  of  God,  by  his  resur- 
rection from  the  dead! 

I  can  scarcely  hold  my  pen  for  joy  and  wonder, 
or  collect  my  thoughts,  for  very  amazement,  at 
what  has  transpired.  But  I  will  try,  and  calm 
my  emotions,  in  order,  my  dear  father,  to  make 
known  to  you  the  mighty  events  which  have 
come  to  pass  to-day. 

My  last  letter  to  you  abruptly  closed,  as  I  was 
interrupted  by  loud  exclamations  of  gladness, 
and  great  confusion,  of  running  and  calling,  in 
the  courts  and  corridors  below.  Upon  hearing 
my  name  called  by  Mary,  and  others,  in  eager, 
joy  trembling  tones,  I  hastened  to  go  down.  On 
reaching  the  staircase  I  met  my  cousin  Mary, 
ascending,  almost  flying.  Wonder,  love,  and 
happiness  inexpressible,  beamed  from  her  beau- 
tiful countenance.  Meeting  me,  she  threw  her 
arms  about  my  neck,  and  essayed  to  utter  some- 
thing, but  her  heart  was  too  furl,  and  bursting 
into  sobs,  she  wept  convulsively  upon  my  bosom, 
in  an  ecstasy  of  delirious  joy. 

Amazed  and  confounded,  not  knowing  what 
had  happened,  I  held  her  to  my  heart,  and  tried 
to  soothe  her  emotion.  The  voice  of  Martha 
now  reached  my  ears  from  the  foot  of  the  stairs, 
talking  rapidly  to  Rabbi  Amos,  who  answered 
with  loud  exclamations! 

"What — what  hath  happened?  Speak,  dear 
Mary!"  I  asked,  unable  to  wait  longer  in  sus- 
nense. 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.          485 

She  raised  her  head,  and  through  her  tears 
and  smiles,  at  length  said,  brokenly: 

"He — He — is — risen — oh,  He  is  risen  from 
the  tomb!" 

"Who?"  I  cried,  half-believing,  yet  doubting. 

"The  Lord!  Our  Mighty  Master — Jesus — 
the  very  Son  of  God,  the  Blessed!  He  is  alive/ 
Adina — alive  and  well!" 

"You  have  seen  a  vision,  or  your  grief,  at  his 
death,  Mary,  has  shaken  your  reason,"  I  an- 
swered her. 

Upon  this  she  released  herself  from  my  arm, 
and  fixing  upon  me  her  large,  earnest  eyes,  said: 

"Adina,  be  not  faithless,  but  believing.  Jesus 
is  risen  from  the  dead.  He  is  alive,  and  walk- 
ing! I  have  seen  Him — he  has  spoken  to  Mary 
of  Bethany,  Lazarus's  sister,  and  also  to  me! 
Oh,  joy,  joy!  He  is  the  very  Son  of  the  Highest, 
and  we  have  not  been  deceived;  but  we  have 
been  blind,  and  deaf,  and  ignorant,  not  to  have 
understood  that  he  must  die,  and  rise  again  the 
third  day!  Come — delay  not!  I  have  flown 
into  the  city  to  tell  thee;  and  Mary  has  told  Peter 
and  John,  whom  she  met  at  the  door,  and  who, 
doubting,  as  thou  hast  done,  yet  have  run  to  see 
if  these  things  be  so.  They  will  find  the  sepul- 
chre empty.  Haste  thee  to  go  with  us!" 

While  overwhelmed  wnth  wonder,  and  tremb- 
ling with  joy,  I  was  preparing  to  accompany  her, 
Martha  appeared,  her  face  radiant  with  celestial 
happiness : 

"You  have  heard  the  tidings  of  great  joy,  O 
Adina!" 


486          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

"Can  they  be  true,  Martha?"  I  asked,  earn- 
estly. 

"Yes,  for  I  have  seen  him  walking,  heard  his 
voice,  and  touched  him!  You,  also,  shall  see 
him,  for  he  hath  sent  us  to  tell  his  disciples." 

At  the  gateway  we  met  Mary  of  Bethany,  who 
had  been  telling  John  and  Peter  the  news,  and 
Iiad  also  made  it  known  to  Rabbi  Amos  and 
Nicodemus.  They  were  talking  together  in  the 
court,  upon  the  crucifixion,  when  she  burst  in 
upon  them  with  the  cries  I  had  heard — "He  is 
risen — He  is  risen!" 

We  three  now  hastened  together  towards  the 
garden  of  Joseph,  I  wishing  my  feet  wings,  that 
I  might  reach  the  sepulchre  sooner,  fearing  that 
the  vision  of  Jesus  would  be  vanished  ere  I  ar- 
rived. As  we  were  going  out  of  the  gate,  we 
were  met  by  four  or  five  Roman  soldiers,  who, 
with  aspects  stamped  with  fear,  were  running 
past  us  into  the  city. 

"What  means  this  flight  and  terror,  men?'* 
cried  the  captain  of  the  gate.  "You  fly  as  if  you 
were  in  full  retreat  from  an  enemy.  Speak, 
Marius,  you  seem  to  have  your  senses!"  he  de- 
manded, of  the  youngest  of  the  soldiers. 

We  paused  to  hear  what  he  said. 

"Per  Dian,  captain — we  have  been  terrified  be- 
yond measure,"  answered  the  soldier.  "My  heart 
beats  yet,  as  if  it  were  an  alarum-drum.  You 
see,  we  were  a  part  of  the  guard  left  in  charge  of 
the  sepulchre  of  this  Jewish  Prophet,  crucifiejl 
three  days  ago.  Before  dawn  this  morning,  as  I 
was  pacing  to  and  fro  before  the  tomb,  and  my 
comrades  were  reclining  about  at  ease,  and  while 


THE   PRIXCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.  487 

I  was  idly  gazing  at  the  morning  star,  fading 
into  the  dawn,  there  suddenly  shone  round  about 
us  a  light,  like  a  descending  meteor,  accompanied 
by  a  rushing,  like  a  legion  of  wings.  The  men 
started  to  their  feet  in  amazement!  On  looking 
zibout  us  I  saw  a  dazzling  form,  in  the  mid 
heavens,  with  broad  wings  of  gold,  sparkling 
with  myriads  of  stars,  every  feather  a  star,  and 
clad  in  raiment  white  and  gleaming  as  the  sum- 
mer's lightning.  This  terrible  presence,  like 
that  of  one  of  the  Dii  Immortales,  made  us  fear 
exceedingly,  beyond  any  terror  we  had  before 
experienced.  But  when  we  saw  this  mighty 
being  descend  straight  towards  the  tomb,  and  be- 
held the  resplendent  majesty  of  his  celestial  vis- 
age, which  blinded  us,  our  hearts  failed  within  us. 
The  angel,  or  god,  alighted  amid  a  blaze  of  radi- 
ance at  the  door  of  the  sepulchre;  and  as  his  foot 
touched  the  earth,  it  trembled,  as  if  with  a  great 
earthquake.  The  soldiers  shook  with  terror,  and 
fell  to  the  ground,  before  his  presence,  as  dead 
men.  I  stood,  unable  to  move,  frozen  by  fear  to 
a  statue.  He  touched  the  great  stone  with  one 
of  his  fingers,  and  it  rolled  outward  at  his  feet, 
as  if  a  catapult  had  struck  it,  and  like  a  Jove 
taking  his  throne,  he  sat  upon  it! 

"But  one  thing  more,"  continued  the  soldier, 
"was  wanting  to  fill  my  cup  of  terror  to  the  full. 
And  it  followed.  I  saw  the  crucified  Prophet 
rise  up  from  the  slab  on  which  he  was  laid,  and 
stand  upon  his  feet,  and  walk  forth  alive,  with 
the  tread  of  some  mighty  conqueror!  The  celes- 
tial being,  so  terrible  in  his  majestic  splendor, 
veiled  his  face  with  his  wings  before  his  presence, 


488          THE   PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

and  prostrated  himself  al  his  feet,  as  if  in  homage 
to  one  greater  than  himself! 

"I  saw  no  more,  but  fell,  insensible  with  terror, 
to  the  earth.  When,  at  length,  I  came  to  my- 
self, the  tomb  was  filled  with  dazzling  forms  of 
resplendent  beauty;  the  air  rung  with  music, 
such  as  mortals  never  before  heard;  and  I  fled, 
pursued  by  my  fears,  the  rest  of  the  soldiers  ris- 
ing, and  following  me,  each  man  fearing  to  look 
back." 

"This  is  indeed  marvelous,"  answered  the  cap- 
tain of  the  gate;  "I  saw  the  light,  and  felt  the 
tremor  of  the  earth;  but  I  thought  it  was  a 
thunderbolt  which  had  struck  the  ground  near 
the  hill  of  Calvary.  Go,  let  the  Prefect  ^rnilius, 
or  Pilate  himself,  know  what  has  happened." 

The  soldiers  hurried  forward  into  the  city; 
while,  confirmed  now  in  the  certainty  that  Jesus 
was  risen,  I  hastened,  with  Martha  and  Mary,  in 
the  direction  of  the  garden. 

"Thou  believest  now,  Adina,"  said  Mary  of 
Bethany,  to  me,  as  we  flew  along. 

"Yes — only  let  me  behold  him  face  to  face, 
and  I  shall  then  be  willing,  at  that  hour,  to  meet 
death.  How  did  the  risen  Lord  look,  Mary?"  I 
asked. 

"There  was  the  same  benign  and  holy  expres- 
sion— the  same  divine  majesty,  the  same  loving 
words,  and  celestial  dignity." 

^"How  and  where  did  you  behold  him,  Mary?" 
I  interrogated,  as  we  drew  near  to  the  steep  path 
leading  to  the  gate  of  Joseph's  garden. 

"When  we  reached  the  tomb,  with  our  spices 
and  precious  ointments,  to  embalm  the  body,  we 


THE  PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.          489 

found  it  open,  and  the  soldiers,  who  had  guarded 
it,  lying  about  upon  the  ground  like  dead  men. 
Upon  the  stone  sat  the  archangel,  but  the  re- 
splendent light  of  his  apparel  and  countenance 
were  so  tempered  to  our  eyes,  that,  although  we 
believed  that  it  was  an  angel,  we  were  not  terri- 
fied, for  his  looks  were  kind,  and  the  aspect  of  his 
face  divinely  beautiful,  combined  with  a  terrible 
and  indescribable  majesty.  We  shook  with  fear, 
and  stood  still,  unable  to  move,  gazing  on  him  in 
silent  expectation. 

"  'Fear  not,  ye,'  he  said,  in  a  voice  that  seemed 
to  fill  the  air  about  us  with  undulating  music, 
'fear  not,  daughters  of  Abraham.  I  know  that 
ye  seek  Jesus,  which  wras  crucified!  He  is  not 
here,  but  is  risen,  as  he  foretold.  Lo!  see  the 
place  where  the  Lord  of  Life,  and  Conqueror  of 
Death,  hath  lain!' 

We  then  timidly  approached,  and  looked  in, 
and  saw  the  sepulchre  empty;  but  a  soft  light 
filled  the  whole  place. 

"  'Go  and  tell  his  disciples,  that  the  Lord  is 
risen/  added  the  angel;  'and  that  he  will  go  be- 
fore them  into  Galilee.  There  shall  they  see 
him  not  many  days  hence!' 

"When  the  angel  had  thus  spoken  to  us,"  con- 
tinued Mary,  "we  departed  quickly  from  the 
sepulchre  with  fear  and  great  joy,  and  ran  to  go 
into  the  city,  to  bring  his  disciples  word,  accord- 
ing to  the  command  of  the  angel.  But  I  had  not 
advanced  so  far  as  the  gate  of  the  garden,  being 
behind  the  rest,  when  I  beheld  Jesus  himself 
standing  in  my  path.  I  stopped,  between  terror 
and  joy. 


490          THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

"  'All  hail!  daughter  of  Israel/  he  said,  'Be  not 
afraid.  I  am  living,  that  was  dead!  It  was 
needful  that  I  should  die,  and  rise  again,  that  I 
might  raise  up  from  the  dead  all  who  die  in  me, 
to  life  immortal.  Go,  Mary,  and  tell  my  mother 
and  my  brethren,  and  Peter,  and  John,  and 
Lazarus,  that  I  am  risen,  and  that  I  have  spoken 
with  you.  Behold  my  wounded  hands,  that  it  is 
I  myself!  Be  not  afraid!  I  am  the  resurrection 
and  the  life!' 

"I  then  cast  myself  at  his  feet,  and  worshiped 
him ;  and  when  I  looked  up,  he  was  gone. 

"The  others  did  not  see  him.  We  now  con- 
tinued on  to  the  city,  as  if  we  had  wings;  yet, 
rapidly  as  we  went,  some  of  the  same  Roman 
watch  whom  we  met  coming  in  just  now,  passed 
us,  in  their  flight  and  alarm ;  for  they  fled  at  first 
in  different  parties,  different  ways.  But  see! 
we  are  now  at  the  gate  of  the  garden,"  added 
Mary  of  Bethany,  in  a  low  tone  of  awe.  "He 
must  be  near  us." 

But  we  approached  the  tomb  without  seeing 
any  man,  having  arrived  before  Peter  and  John, 
who  had  been  delayed  some  time  at  the  Jaffa 
gate,  which  route  they  took,  as  being  nighest: 
but  it  was  not  opened  when  they  reached  it,  and 
they  were  detained.  We,  therefore,  found  no 
one  at  the  sepulchre.  It  was  open,  and  empty. 
The  stone  in  front,  on  which  the  archangel  sat. 
was  vacant.  As  we  drew  near,  a  bright  light 
suddenly  shone  out  from  the  tomb;  and  upon 
going  nigher  I  beheld  two  angels,  clothed  in 
white  robes,  and  with  countenances  of  Divine 
radiance,  seated,  one  at  the  head,  and  the  other 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.          491 

at  the  foot  of  the  slab  of  marble,  on  which  the 
body  of  Jesus  had  lain.  At  the  sight  of  these 
noble  and  beautiful  beings,  which  we  knew  were 
sons  of  God,  come  down  from  heaven,  we  were 
affrighted.  I  sank  upon  the  stone  which  had 
been  rolled  away,  and  remained  without  power 
of  emotion. 

"Be  not  afraid,  daughters  of  Jerusalem,"  said 
one  of  the  angels,  speaking  to  us  in  the  Hebrew 
tongue;  "He  whom  ye  seek,  liveth — and  dieth 
no  more!  He  is  risen  from  the  tomb,  which 
could  not  hold  him  but  through  his  consent;  for 
Jesus  is  Lord  of  Life,  and  Victor  over  Death  and 
Hell,  forevermore!  Go  your  way,  and  tell  his 
disciples  that  he  awaits  them  at  Nazareth,  at  the 
house  of  Mary,  his  mother,  by  the  sea-side." 

The  angels  then  vanished  from  our  sight;  and 
at  the  same  moment  John  and  Peter  came  run- 
ning, and  seeing  the  stone  rolled  away,  John 
stooped  down,  and  looked  in,  and  said  that  he 
saw  the  linen  clothes  in  which  the  body  of  Jesus 
had  been  wrapped,  lying  folded  together,  and 
also  the  napkin  which  had  been  bound  about  his 
head.  Peter  now  coming  up,  breathless  with 
eagerness  and  haste,  no  sooner  saw  the  tomb 
open,  than  he  went  boldly  in,  and  carefully  ex- 
amined all  for  himself.  He  then  called  to  John, 
who  also  went  in,  and  both  were  convinced  that 
their  Lord  had  indeed  risen  from  the  dead;  and 
when  we  made  known  to  them  what  the  angels 
had  said  to  us,  that  Jesus  would  go  before,  and 
meet  them  in  Galilee,  they  rejoiced  greatly,  and 
shortly  afterwards  departed,  to  hasten  into  Gali- 
lee, no  longer  doubting,  but  believing.  I  also 


492          THE  PRINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

returned  with  them,  to  convey  the  news  to  Mary, 
the  mother  of  Jesus,  who  had  not  left  the  house, 
and  scarcely  her  bed,  in  her  great  sorrow,  since 
the  day  of  the  crucifixion.  Mary  of  Bethany, 
however,  remained,  lingering  near  the  tomb, 
hoping  that  Jesus  had  not  yet  left  the  garden, 
and  that  she  might  once  more  behold  him. 

Seated  upon  the  steps  of  the  tomb,  weeping 
for  joy  at  his  resurrection,  and  wishing  once 
more  to  behold  him,  she  heard  a  footstep  behind 
her,  and,  turning  round,  saw  a  man  standing  near 
her.  It  was  Jesus  himself,  and  kneeling,  she  was 
about  to  clasp  his  feet,  when  he  said  to  her: 

"Touch  me  not,  Mary,  I  am  not  yet  ascended 
to  my  Father.  But  go  and  tell  Lazarus,  and  my 
brethren,  and  my  mother,  that  I  ascend,  ere 
many  days,  unto  my  Father  and  your  Father, 
and  unto  my  God  and  your  God." 

Jesus  then  vanished  out  of  her  sight;  and  she 
came  and  told  all  these  things  to  us,  and  to  the 
disciples;  and  we  all,  once  more,  believed  that 
Jesus  was  Messias  and  Christ,  the  immortal  Son 
of  the  Blessed.  Such  joy  as  filled  the  bosoms  of 
his  friends  was  never  before  experienced  by  hu- 
man beings.  Our  happiness  and  exultation  now 
were  in  proportion  to  our  depression  before  his 
resurrection. 

But  what  pen  can  3escrifre,  my  Hear  father,  the 
amazement  and  consternation  of  Caiaphas,  and 
the  chief  priests,  and  the  rest  of  his  enemies! 
The  soldiers  who  had  kept  guard  of  the  sepul- 
chre had  entered  the  city  by  different  ways,  and 
spread  the  report  of  the  mighty  miracle  of  the 


THE   PRINCm   OF  THE  HOUSE   OP  DATU»-          495 

resurrection  through  every  principal  street  i* 
Jerusalem,  as  they  fled  through  it. 

Caiaphas  hearing  the  uproar,  sprang  from  hi* 
couch  to  inquire  the  cause  of  it,  and  on  being  as- 
sured by  his  servants,  "Jesus  has  burst  his  tomb 
and  risen  alive  from  the  dead!"  he  quaked,  and 
became  deadly  pale.  But  he  soon  rallied,  and 
sending  for  two  or  three  of  the  soldiers,  who  were 
describing  vividly  what  they  had  witnessed  to  a 
large  concourse  in  the  street,  he  questioned  them 
closely  upon  the  facts.  The  soldiers'  testimony 
agreed  together,  and  could  not  be  gainsayed. 

When  Pilate  received  the  account  from  the 
Centurion  of  the  guard,  he  said: 

"We  have  crucified  a  God,  as  I  believed! 
Henceforth  I  am  accursed!"  and  leaving  his  Hall 
of  Judgment,  he  went  and  shut  himself  up  in  his 
own  room,  which  he  has  not  since  left.  But  men 
say  he  neither  eats  nor  sleeps,  and  that  a  dread 
fit  of  gloom  has  settled  upon  his  soul. 

Caiaphas  and  the  priests  in  the  meanwhile  as- 
sembled together  in  full  sanhedrim,  and  hearing 
the-  testimony  of  the  Centurion,  were  convinced 
that  the  fact  could  not  be  concealed  of  Jesus' 
resurrection. 

"Who  had  seen  him  alive?"  demanded  the 
High-Priest. 

"I  have  seen  him,  my  lord,"  answered  the 
Centurion, — "''I  saw  his  pierced  feet  and  hands  as 
he  walked  past  me ;  and  the  morning  breeze  blew 
aside  his  mantle  and  exposed  to  my  eyes  the 
open  wound  made  bv  the  spear  of  my  soldier 
Philippus.  He  was  alive,  and  in  full  strength  oi 
limb!"  -•— ' 


494          THE  PBINCE  OP  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

"Thou  sawest  a  vision,  Roman,"  answered 
Caiaphas.  "Come  then  aside  with  us,  and  let  us 
talk  with  thee." 

In  a  few  minutes  afterwards  the  Centurion  left 
the  court  of  the  High-Priest's  palace  followed  by 
a  Gibeonitish  slave,  bearing  after  him  a  vase  of 
Persian  gold.  He  has  told  every  one  since  that 
he  must  have  seen  a  spirit,  for  that  the  disciples 
of  Jesus  came  by  night  and  stole  away  the  body 
of  their  master,  while  they  slept,  overcome  with 
watching.  His  soldiers  have  also  been  bribed 
to  tell  the  same  tale. 

Such  is  the  false  version  that  now  goes  about 
the  city,  my  dear  father;  but  there  are  few  that 
give  it  credence,  even  of  our  enemies.  As  JEm'il- 
ius,  who  is  filled  with  great  joy  at  the  resurrec- 
tion of  Jesus,  to-day  very  justly  says : 

"If  these  soldiers  slept  on  guard,  they  merited 
<death  therefore  by  the  military  laws  of  the  em- 
pire. If,  while  sleeping,  their  charge — the  dead 
tody  of  Jesus — was  taken  away,  they  deserve 
death  for  failing  to  prevent  it.  Why,  then,  are 
they  not  placed  under  arrest  by  Pilate's  orders, 
if  this  story  be  true?  Because  Pilate  well  knows 
that  it  is  not  true!  He  knows,  because  he  has 
privately  examined  many  of  the  soldiers,  that 
Jesus  did  burst  his  tomb,  and  that  ^  angels 
rolled  away  the  stone  without  breaking  his  seals, 
•which  could  not  have  been  left  unmarred,  but  by 
a  miracle.  He  knows  that  Jesus  has  arisen — for 
it  is  believed  that  he  has  also  beheld  him;  at  least 
such  is  the  rumor  of  the  Pretorium.  It  was  the 
form  of  Jesus  visible  before  him,  doubtless,  that 
•drove  him  in  such  amazement  from  his  Hall  to 


THS   PKINCE   OF  THE   HOUcS   OF  DAVID.  496 

his  secret-chamber;  for  it  was  remarked  that  he 
started,  turned  deadly  pale,  and  essayed  to  ad- 
dress the  invisible  space  before  him,  as  if  he  saw 
a  spirit.  Therefore  his  soldiers  are  not  molested 
— and  their  exemption  from  arrest,  is  proof  that 
the  body  of  Jesus  was  not  stolen  away  while  they 
slept.  Besides,  if  they  were  asleep,  these  sol- 
diers, how  could  they  tell  that  it  was  stolen  away, 
and  declare  the  persons  who  did  it?" 

This  is  the  unanswerable  reasoning  of  the  Pre- 
fect /Emilius;  and  thus  you  see,  dear  father,  that 
Caiaphas  can  gain  little  by  his  briberies  and  dili- 
gently circulated  falsehood.  That  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  is  alive  from  the  dead  is  true,  and  if  I 
had  not  seen  him,  the  evidence  is  complete 
enough  to  convince  me  of  the  fact. 

Besides  the  facts  which  I  have  stated,  is  the 
increasing  testimony  of  the  thousands,  who,  to- 
day, have  gone  out  of  the  city  to  see  the  sepul- 
chre where  he  was  laid.  They  say,  both  enemies 
of  Jesus  as  well  as  our  friends,  that  it  was  impos- 
sible for  the  door  to  have  been  opened  by  any 
human  being,  not  by  Pilate  himself,  without  mar- 
ring the  seals.  They  also  assert  that  to  remove 
the  stone  by  night,  which  would  require  four 
men,  and  to  bear  forth  the  body,  would  have  been 
impossible  if  the  guard  had  been  present;  and  if 
they  had  been  asleep,  they  must  have  awakened 
them  with  the  heavy  noise  made  by  rolling  the 
massive  door  along  the  hollow  pavement  outside 
the  sepulchre. 

"If,"  say  the  common  people,  "the  watch  slept, 
why  does  not  the  Procurator  put  them  to  death  ?" 

This  question  remains  unanswered,  and  the 


496          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID 

watch  go  about  the  streets  unharmed!  My  dear 
father,  remember  no  more  my  unbelief,  but  with 
me,  believe  in  Jesus,  that  He  is  the  Son  of  God, 
the  Saviour  of  Israel,  the  immortal  Christ  of  the 
Prophets. 

[Your  affectionate  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER  XXXVIII. 

Bethany,  House  of  Mary  and  Martha,  \ 
one  month  after  the  Passover.  J 

I  deeply  regret,  my  dearest  father,  the  delays 
which  have  detained  you  so  long  from  arriving 
at  Jerusalem,  but  I  trust  that  ere  many  days,  the 
caravan  for  which  you  wait  will  reach  Gaza,  and 
that  you  will  be  enabled  to  resume  your  journey 
to  the  Holy  City.  I  am  now  at  Bethany,  where 
I  have  been  some  time  making  it  my  home,  for 
such  was  the  hostility  of  the  Jews,  incited  by  the 
chief  priests,  against  us,  that,  by  Pilate's  com- 
mand, we  were  compelled  to  leave  Jerusalem  on 
the  day  of  the  resurrection,  to  remain  until  their 
hatred  had  in  some  degree  subsided ;  for  he  said 
that  the  continued  presence  there  of  the  disciples 
of  Jesus,  kept  up  constant  occasion  for  tumult 
and  interposition  of  the  Roman  authority. 

Uncle  Amos  has  retired  for  the  present  to  his 
farm,  near  Jericho;  but  will  be  here  to-morrow 
to  remain  with  us.  Therefore  when  you  come 


498  THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

near  to  Jerusalem,  instead  of  going  directly  into 
the  city,  turn  aside  by  the  road  leading  past  the 
king's  gardens  and  go  up  the  brook  of  Ked- 
ron,  into  the  way  of  Bethany.  I  pray  that  God 
may  preserve  you  in  safety,  and  soon  permit  me 
the  happiness  of  once  more  embracing  you,  after 
three  long  years  of  separation. 

And  what  events  have  transpired,  and  to  which 
I  have  been  a  witness  in  these  three  years! 
From  the  preaching  of  John  the  Baptiser  and 
the  baptism  of  Jesus  by  him,  unto  the  glorious 
resurrection  of  the  mighty  Son  of  God! 
Favored,  indeed,  have  I  been  to  have  been  a 
dweller  in  Judea,  during  this  eventful  period,  and 
to  have  seen  and  heard  these  things,  which  no 
other  age  of  the  world  can  parallel !  But  so  far 
as  one  could  know  them,  who  was  not  an  eye- 
witness, you,  my  dear  father,  have  been  faithfully 
informed  of  them  through  my  letters.  You 
have,  therefore,  before  you  the  same  testimony 
as  I  have,  and  those  who  have  seen  and  now  be- 
lieve. Once  more,  my  dear  father,  read  care- 
fully over  the  whole  narrative,  from  the  first  let- 
ter, and  thus,  with  all  the  facts  fresh  in  your 
mind,  answer  to  yourself  this  inquiry: 

"Was  not  this  man  the  Son  of  God?  Was  not 
he  the  very  Christ,  the  divine  and  long-looked 
for  Messias?  Was  he  not  that  mightv  Prophet 
which  should  come  into  the  world?  If  he  were 
not,  who  is  He?  Who  is  He  at  whose  birth  the 
air  was  filled  with  angels,  over  whose  couch  hung 
a  celestial  star;  before  whose  infant  feet  the  three 
wisest  men  of  the  world,  Shapha  of  Egypt,  the 
son  of  Ham,  Beltazar  of  Assyria,  the  son  of 


THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  499 

Shem,  and  Thoropha,  of  Grecia,  the  son  of 
Japhet,  representing  the  family  of  mankind, 
bowed  in  adoration  and  worship,  as  to  a  God! 
Who  is  He  for  whom  Herod  the  first  slew  three 
hundred  and  two-score  children  in  Bethlehem, 
in  order  to  reach  his  life?  Who  was  He  whom 
John  the  Baptiser  proclaimed  the  "Lamb  of 
God,"  whose  blood  was  the  only  fountain  for  sin? 
Who  was  he  at  whose  baptism  the  heavens  were 
opened  above  his  head,  and  the  spirit  of  God  de- 
scended upon  him  in  the  form  of  a  dove  of  light, 
while  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  like  the  voice  of 
many  thunders,  proclaimed  from  the  depths  of 
the  cloudless  skies,  "This  is  my  beloved  Son?" 
Who  was  He,  my  dear  father,  at  whose  word  the 
tempest  became  still;  the  billowy  waves  placid; 
the  winds  hushed?  Who  was  He  that  healed  the 
sick  and  leprous  by  a  word;  who  restored  a  lost 
arm  or  leg  by  touch ;  who  by  a  look  re-animated 
the  lifeless  limb  of  the  paralytic;  who  raised  the 
daughter  of  Jairus ;  healed  the  Centurion's  serv- 
ant; restored  to  life  the  son  of  the  widow  of  Nain; 
cast  out  a  legion  of  devils  from  Beor,  the  Levitej 
restored  the  deaf  and  dumb  nephew  of  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Syria  to  hearing  and  speech;  gave  to 
his  disciples  also  the  same  power  to  do  miracles; 
feeds  at  one  time  four  thousand  men,  and  another 
time  five  thousand,  from  a  few  pounds  of  bread 
and  a  few  fishes,  which  a  lad  could  carry  in  a 
basket;  whom  Moses  and  Elias  came  from  the 
regions  of  the  blessed-,  shining  in  resplendent 
glory,  bright  from  the  presence  of  the  Father,  to 
visit  and  hold  communion  with ;  who  calls  forth 
from  the  tomb  of  corruption  Laza-rus  to  Hfe  and 


500          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF   DAVID. 

health;  who  once  while  praying,  was  answered 
by  a  voice  from  Heaven  in  the  hearing  of  many 
people,  "I  have  glorified  My  name,  and  will 
glorify  it  again?" 

Who  was  He,  my  father,  at  whose  trial  nothing 
could  be  found  against  him,  and  who,  when  de- 
livered to  execution  by  Pilate  to  save  himself 
and  appease  the  Jews,  was  publicly  declared  to 
be  an  innocent  man,  by  the  act  of  the  Procura- 
tor, in  calling  for  water  and  washing  his  hands, 
and  saying  that  he  was  clear  of  his  blood,  for  he 
found  no  fault  in  him?  Who  was  He  at 
whose  crucifixion  the  heavens  grew  black  as 
sackcloth,  the  sun  withdrew  its  light,  the  stars 
shot  from  their  spheres,  the  lightnings  leaped 
along  the  earth,  the  earth  itself  quaked,  and  the 
dead  sprung  from  their  graves?  Who  was  He 
who  on  the  third  day  burst  the  bars  of  the  tomb, 
received  as  he  walked  forth  the  homage  of  an 
archangel,  whose  servants  were  a  seraph  and  a 
cherub,  waiting  behind  him  in  the  tomb;  who 
appeared  alive  to  his  mother — to  the  women  of 
Galilee — to  Mary  of  Bethany,  to  Martha  and 
Lazarus,  and  last  of  all  to  me  also?  Who  was 
this  wonderful  person,  my  father — who  was  He 
but  the  Christ?  Oh,  read,  reflect,  compare  the 
prophets  that  speak  of  Messias,  with  the  life,  and 
words,  and  deeds  of  Jesus;  and  the  life  of  Jesus 
with  the  prophets.  There  thou  wilt  see  that  he 
has  proven  himself  to  be  the  very  Christ,  by 
what  we  in  our  ignorance  looked  upon  as  the 
seal  affixed  to  an  impostor.  Isaias  prophesied 
of  the  Christ  whom  he  saw  afar  off,  that  "he 
should  be  a  man  of  sorrow;"  that  he  should  be 


THE   PRINCE   OF  THE   HOUSB  OP  DAVID.  501 

"despised  and  rejected  of  men;"  that  he  should 
be  brought  "as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter;"  that  he 
should  be  "'taken  from  prison  and  judgment,  and 
cut  off  from  the  land  of  the  living;"  that  he 
should  be  "numbered  with  the  wicked  in  his 
death,  and  make  his  grave  with  the  rich!"  How 
light,  how  clear,  how  plain,  all  these  prophecies 
now  are  to  me,  and  to  us  all !  How  wonderfully 
in  their  minuteness  they  have  been  fulfilled,  you 
already  know. 

His  resurrection  also  was  foretold  by  himself, 
but  we  did  not  understand  his  words  until  now. 
AVhen  he  spoke  of  destroying  the  Temple  and 
raising  it  in  three  days,  he  spoke  of  the  taber- 
nacle of  his  body!  Oh,  how  many  sayings, 
which,  when  spoken  by  his  sacred  lips,  we  un- 
derstood not,  now  rush  upon  us  in  all  their  mean- 
ing, proving  to  us  that  every  step  of  his  life  was 
foreknown  to  him;  that  he  went  forward  to  his 
death  aware  of  all  things  whatsoever  that  were 
going  to  befall  him! 

But  his  resurrection  was  also  foretold  by  the 
holy  David,  when  he  said,  "Thou  wilt  not  leave 
his  soul  in  Hades,  nor  suffer  thy  Holy  One  to  see 
corruption;  therefore  my  flesh  shall  rest  in 
hope!"  Even  his  arraignment  before  Pilate, 
Caiaphas,  and  Herod,  was  foretold  by  David, 
when  he  said:  "The  kings  of  the  earth  set  them- 
selves, and  the  rulers  take  counsel  together, 
against  the  Lord,  and  against  his  Anointed:"  yet 
the  Lord  saith,  "Thou  art  my  Son,  this  day  I 
have  begotten  thee."  Also,  my  dear  father,  turn 
to  the  Psalm  xxii,  of  king  David,  and  compare 
the  following  words,  which  speaks  of  Messias,1 


502  THE   PKINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

with  what  I  have  described  in  my  previous 
letters : 

"My  God,  my  God!  why  hast"thou  forsaken 
me!"  are  prophetic  words  put  into  the  mouth  of 
Messias  when  he  shall  come,  and  be  forsaken  of 
God.  You  will  find  that  in  my  letters  I  have  told 
you  that  on  the  cross  Jesus  uttered  these  very 
words. 

Again,  king  David  makes  Messias,  a  few  sen- 
tences further  on,  to  say,  "Thev  shoot  out  the  lip 
at  me;  they  shake  the  head;  they  laugh  me  to 
scorn.  They  say,  'He  trusted  in  the  Lord  that 
he  would  deliver  him.'  Thou  hast  brought  me 
into  the  dust  of  death." 

All  this  shows  that  Messias,  if  he  were  to  be 
a  king,  was  also  to  suffer,  to  be  forsaken  of  God, 
to  be  brought  to  death !  and  yet  we  rejected  Jesus 
as  soon  as  he  died!  But,  my  dear  father,  read 
the  same  Psalm  of  the  holy  king  a  little  further, 
and  you  will  see  these  words,  which  were  put  by 
the  royal  prophet  into  the  lips  of  his  future 
Messias: 

"The  assembly  of  the  wicked  have  enclosed 
me.  They  pierced  my  hands  and  my  feet. 
They  part  my  garments  among  them,  and  upon 
my  vesture  cast  lots!" 

Read  and  compare  these  acknowledged 
prophecies  of  Messias  with  the  accounts  in  my 
letters,  dear  father,  and  you  will  not  only  be  con- 
vinced that  Jesus  is  the  Messias  of  the  prophets, 
and  Christ  of  God,  but  you  will  perceive  that  his 
humiliation  and  sufferings  before  Pilate  ancfl 
Caiaphas,  his  agony  on  the  cross,  his  death  and 
burial,  instead,  as  we  ignorantly  conceived,  of 


THE  PRINCE   OP  THE   F^tTSE  OP  DAVID.          503 

being  evidences  that  he  was  not  the  Christ,  were 
proof  that  He  was  the  very  Son  of  the  Highest — 
the  Shiloh  of  Jehovah  foretold  by  the  prophets — 
the  Anointed  Kin^  of  Isra-el. 

Oh,  wonderful  is  all  this!  How  marvelous 
these  things  passing  before  our  eyes!  Yet  how 
have  we  been  blinded — how  gross  and  dark  our 
minds  that  we  could  not,  until  He  died,  and  has 
arisen  again,  see  in  him,  all  that  he  was  in  his 
sufferings  and  in  his  death — the  Divine  Mes- 
sias.  Now  all  is  dazzlingly  clear!  The  prophets 
are  unveiled  to  our  sight,  and  we  see  that  these 
things  must  have  happened  to  him.  Yet  how 
quickly  was  He  deserted  and  faith  lost  in  him! 
How  his  disciples  denied  that  they  ever  knew 
him;  and  how  we  all  were  ashamed  that  we  had 
ever  followed  him!  Oh,  our  darkness,  our  blind- 
ness, to  have  seen  in  the  prophecies  of  Messias, 
only  the  passages  which  speak  of  his  glory  and 
power,  and  passed  by  those,  which  as  positively 
foretold  of  his  humiliation,  degradation,  and 
death !  Read  the  prophets  no  longer,  my  dearest 
father,  with  a  veil  before  your  eyes!  See,  in  all 
you  read,  Jesus  as  the  end  of  the  prophets,  the 
goal  of  all  their  far-seeing  prophecies,  the  veri- 
table and  sure  realization  of  their  prophetic 
visions. 

But  you  have  said,  in  one  of  your  late  letters 
to  me,  "that  Elias  must  first  come,  ere  Messias 
appear  on  earth ;  and  then  you  ask  me,  where  is 
Elias?  Hath  he  come?  Who  hath  seen  him? 

This  question,  my  dear  father,  was  also  put  by 
some  of  the  Jews  to  Jesus.  He  replied; 


804          THE   PRINCE   OP  THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

"EHas  truly  has  come,  and  ye  knew  him 
and  ye  have  done  unto  him  whatsoever  you  list." 

"Who  was  he?"  demanded  several  of  the 
scribes  and  priests,  surprised  at  hearing  this. 

"He  who  came  crying  in  the  wilderness  before 
me,  and  who  spake  of  me,  and  whom  Herod  hath 
slain,"  He  answered. 

"But  his  name  was  John,  master,"  said  they. 
"But  his  spirit  and  power  were  those  of  Elias," 
answered  Jesus.  "In  Elijah's  spirit  and  power 
he  came,  and  thus  was  called  the  Elias  that 
should  come.  The  reality  is  the  man.  John 
was  the  Elias  of  Malachi  the  Prophet — for  pro- 
phetic e)'es  see  natures  independently  of  names." 

Thus,  my  dear  father,  has  Jesus  in  all  particu- 
lars proved  himself  to  be  the  subject  of  all 
prophecy — the  King  of  Israel.  But  you  will 
now  ask,  "Is  He  to  re-establish  the  throne  of 
David,  and  live  forever?" 

Yes,  but  not  in  Jerusalem  on  earth.  Oh,  how 
clear  are  all  things  to  my  apprehension  now! 
His  kingdom,  which  I  once  believed  to  be  the 
land  of  Judah,  is  to  be  in  a  world  beyond  the 
skies,  which  he  has  created  for  his  followers,  and 
to  which  they  are  to  pass,  like  him,  through  the 
gates  of  death.  The  Jerusalem,  in  which  His 
Throne  is  to  be  placed,  is  heavenly,  and  the  true 
Jerusalem,  of  which  the  present  one  is  but  the 
material  type — what  the  body  is  to  the  soul  of  a 
man. 

Jesus  has  talked  with  me  since  his  resurrection, 
and  explained  all  this  to  me,  and  much  more  that 
is  wonderful  and  full  of  joy.  It  is  now  four 
weeks  since  he  arose,  and  during  that  time,  he 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OP  DAVID.          505 

Has  been  not  only  seen  by  all  the  disciples,  but  by 
hundreds  of  his  followers.  The  seventh  day 
after  his  resurrection  he  appeared  openly  at 
Nazareth,  on  the  sea-shore,  to  Peter,  John,  An- 
drew, James,  and  other  disciples,  to  his  numerous 
relatives,  and  many  of  the  chief  citizens  of  his 
town,  all  of  whom  not  only  recognized  him,  but 
marveled  to  see  his  crucified  hands  and  feet.  The 
.effect  of  this  recognition,  which  was  made  by 
many,  who,  being  up  at  the  Passover,  had  seen 
him  crucified,  was  to  bring  the  whole  population 
worshiping  at  his  knees.  The  only  change  in  his 
usual  appearance,  dear  father,  to  the  eye,  is  a 
transparent  paleness,  which  gives  a  soft  radiance 
to  his  whole  aspect,  and  a  certain  majestic  re- 
serve, which  awes  all  who  draw  near  to  him;  so 
that  men  speak  in  his  presence  in  subdued  whis- 
pers. His  mother,  happiest  of  women  now,  as 
she  was  before  the  most  wretched,  ever  sits  at  his 
feet,  and  silently  enjoys  his  sacred  presence,  sel- 
dom speaking,  and  looking  up  to  him,  rather  as 
a  worshiper,  to  her  God,  than  a  mother  upon  her 
son.  That  He  is  in  the  flesh  in  reality,  and  not  a 
spirit,  He  has  proven  to  his  disciples,  by  eating 
with  them:  and  in  a  remarkable  way  to  an  in- 
credulous disciple,  called  Thomas,  who,  not  be- 
lieving that  Jesus  was  risen  in  his  real  body  from 
the  dead,  was  told  by  the  Divine  Lord  to  place 
his  fingers  into  his  hands,  and  his  hand  into  his 
side:  which  Thomas  in  fact  did  do;  when,  falling 
at  his  feet  in  amazement  and  adoration,  he  wor- 
shiped him  as  God. 

It  would  take  much  time,  my  'dear  fatKer,  to 
record  the  numerous  instances  in  which  the  risen 


506          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

Lord  has  been  seen  and  spoken  with,  by  persons 
who  knew  him  before  his  crucifixion;  so  that 
there  is  no  fact  so  fully  established  in  the  minds 
of  many  thousands  in  Judah,  as  the  resurrection 
of  Jesus  from  the  dead. 

And  if  fuller  proof  is  wanted,  it  is  to  be  had,  as 
Abram,  the  learned  Pharisee,  has  been  forced  to 
confess  to  Rabbi  Amos,  in  the  conduct  of  his 
disciples,  after  their  Master's  crucifixion.  For 
they  began  their  defection  by  denying  him,  and 
deserting  him;  they  fled  in  all  directions,  and 
studiously  concealed  the  fact  of  their  former  con- 
nection with  him.  They  were  not  only  moved 
by  fear  to  this  concealment,  but  by  shame  being 
sorely  mortified  at  having  been  led  away  by  him : 
for  they  were  honest,  plain,  sensible  men,  without 
fanaticism  or  fanciful  vagaries.  They  had  be- 
come the  followers  of  Jesus,  because  they  saw  in 
him  that  moral  purity  and  truth,  which  formed 
the  elements  of  their  own  characters.  These 
plain,  homely  men, — these  poor  fishermen,  and 
humble  countrymen,  deeply  felt  how  their  false 
position,  among  judicious  folks,  would  now  make 
them  appear,  and  so  they  hastened  to  bury  their 
disgrace  and  disappointment  in  the  seclusion  of 
the  fishing  hamlets  of  Galilee;  and  doubtless  de- 
sired never  more  to  hear  spoken  into  their  ears 
the  name  of  their  crucified  Master. 

But  what  do  we  behold,  within  a  week  after  the 
resurrection  is  made  known  through  the  length 
and  breadth"  of  Judah?  They  who  had  hidden 
in  dismay,  from  the  face  of  day,  came  boldly 
forth,  anH  once  more  were  with  their  Lore!,  for- 
given by  him,  and  received  by  him  again  into  his 


THE  PEIXCE  OF  THE  BOUSE  OP  DAVID.          507 

Holy  confidence.  They  went  with  him  wherever 
He  went,  even  to  Jerusalem,  from  which  they 
had  but  a  few  days  before  fled.  They  walked 
with  animated  steps,  and  elevated  faces,  like  men 
no  longer  serving  a  defeated  monarch,  but  like 
men  whose  Master  was  Lord  of  heaven  and  of 
earth. 

To-day  they  are  with  him  in  the  gardens  of 
David,  at  Bethlehem,  where  he  is  holding  daily 
a  solemn  council  with  the  eleven,  unfolding  to 
them  the  future  glory  of  his  kingdom,  and  open- 
ing their  understanding  to  the  clear  apprehen- 
sion of  all  which  the  prophets  have  written  con- 
cerning him.  John,  who  is  a  member  of  this 
divine  council,  says  that  the  power  of  Jesus,  the 
extent  and  majesty  of  his  kingdom,  the  infinite 
results  of  his  death  and  resurrection,  are  not  to 
be  conceived  of  by  those  who  have  not  listened 
to  the  sublime  revelations  of  his  own  lips. 

"He  hath  shown  us,"  said  John,  "how  that  his 
true  office  as  Son  of  God,  and  Son  of  Man,  is  to 
be  a  mediator  between  both;  that  by  his  death 
he  reconciled  the  race  of  Adam  to  his  Father, 
having  become  our  Lamb  of  sacrifice  for  the 
whole  world.  He  showed  us  that  He,  himself, 
was  the  High  Priest;  his  own  precious  body  was 
the  victim,  which  He,  himself,  offered  up  to  ap- 
pease the  wrath  of  Jehovah  against  transgres- 
sions, and  how  that  the  Cross  was  the  Altar  of 
this  great  world's  sacrifice,  and  the  Temple  the 
.whole  earth  ancl  heavens.  He  showed  us  how 
that  all  the  lambs  which  ha'd  bled  since  Adam's 
'day,  tvpified  himself,  the  one  only  true  and  effi- 
cient Lamb,  which  God  ultimately  looked  to,  to 


508       THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.  " 

be  sacrificed  for  sins!  How  wonderful,  dear 
father,  is  all  this!  He  further  teaches  his  disci- 
ples, that  he  will  shortly  ascend  from  the  earth, 
to  enter  upon  his  celestial  reign ;  and  that  his  sub- 
jects there  are  to  be  all  who  love  him  and  keep 
his  commandments.  It  is  a  kingdom  of  holi- 
ness, and  none  enter  there  but  the  pure  in  heart. 
He  says  further,  that  as  we  do  now  confess  our 
sins  over  the  blood  of  the  victim  we  sacrifice  for 
ourselves  in  the  Temple,  so  henceforth,  we  must 
look  to  him  (by  faith  when  we  see  him  no 
longer),  slain  a  sacrifice  for  us,  and  confess  our 
sins  to  the  Father  for  his  blood's  sake,  which  the 
Father  has  accepted,  in  the  one  sacrifice  he  made 
on  the  cross,  once  for  all.  Jesus  has  moreover 
taught  his  disciples  that  the  Gentiles  are  to  share 
equally  with  the  children  of  Abraham  the  bene- 
fits of  his  death  and  resurrection ;  that  this  good 
news  shall  be  proclaimed  to  them  by  his  disciples, 
and  that  they  will  gladly  hear  it  and  believe. 
That  the  gospel  of  redemption,  no  longer  by  the 
blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats,  but  by  his  blood, 
shall  in  the  progress  of  ages  fill  the  whole  earth; 
when  every  knee  shall  bow  to  his  name. 

"The  foundation  of  my  everlasting  kingdom," 
he  salth,  "truly  shall  be  laid  upon  earth  in  the 
hearts  of  men;  but  the  building  is  with  God 
eternal  in  the  heavens.  The  tomb  through 
which  I  have  passed  is  the  gate,  and  all  who 
would  come  after  me,  ami  enter  in,  must  follow 
in  my  foot-steps." 

Thomas  then  asked  his  Lor'd  whither  he  wouM 
#o,  an(l  the  way?  How  he  would  leave  the 
earth,  since  te  could  die  no  more? 


THE   PRINCE   OP   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  509 

"Thou  shalt  see  for  thyself  ere  many  days 
pass,"  answered  Jesus.  "In  that  I  have  risen, 
all  whom  my  Father  giveth  me  shall  rise  also 
from  the  dead;  and  those  whom  I  raise  up,  I 
will  take  with  me  the  wray  I  go;  for  where  I  am 
they  shall  evermore  be  with  me  also." 

Such,  dear  father,  is  a  brief  account  of  what 
John  has  told  us,  on  visiting  us,  touching  the 
divine  teaching  of  Messias,  the  Son  of  God,  re- 
specting his  kingdom.  Yet  much  is  still  mys- 
terious; but  we  know  enough  to  be  willing  to 
trust  ourselves  to  him  for  this  life,  and  for  that 
which  is  to  come.  We  know  that  all  power  is 
given  into  his  hands,  and  that  he  can  save  all 
men  who  believe  in,  and  accept  him  as  the  only 
sacrificed  Lamb,  whom  the  Father  hath  accepted 
for  the  iniquities  of  men.  The  sacrifices  of  the 
Temple  must  henceforth  cease. 

What  is  remarkable,  dear  father,  notwithstand- 
ing the  Jews  have  heard  that  Jesus  walks  every- 
where through  Jewry,  yet  no  efforts  are  made  to 
lay  hands  on  him.  At  his  presence,  crowds  of 
his  enemies  fly  like  the  stricken  multitude  before 
the  advancing  sirocco.  His  presence  in  Judea 
is  a  present  dread,  like  some  great  evil,  to  those 
who  fear  him;  but  like  a  celestial  blessing  to 
more  who  love  him.  Pilate,  on  the  eve  of  mak- 
ing a  journey  last  week  to  Bethel,  before  quitting 
the  city,  dispatched  couriers  in  advance  to  ascer- 
tain whether  Jesus  the  crucified  was  on  the  line 
of  his  route!  Caiaphas  having  occasion  to  go  to 
Jericho,  a  few  days  after  the  Passover,  hearing 
that  Jesus  had  been  seen  with  his  disciples  on  the 
road,  made  a  circuit  round  .by  Luz  and  Shiloh,  in 


510          THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF  DAVID.  N 

order  not  to  meet  him.  *"  The  gates  of  this  city 
are  kept  constantly  shut,  lest  he  should  enter 
•within  the  walls :  some  of  the  chief  priests  fearing 
greatly  to  behold  his  face,  while  others  imagine 
that  he  is  engaged  in  raising  an  army,  to  advance 
upon  and  •  take  Jerusalem  from  the  Romans. 
And  doubtless,  dear  father,  were  the  kingdom  of 
Jesus  of  this  world,  he  would  in  a  few  days  lead 
a  countless  host  against  the  city,  and  make  him- 
self master  of  Judea.  But  his  kingdom  is  above; 
and  all  who  dwell  in  the  true  Jerusalem,  must 
follow  him  thither  through  sufferings,  humilia- 
tion and  death. 

I  rejoice  to  see  by  your  last  letter,  that  you 
may  be  expected  to  reach  here  the  week  after 
next.  Oh,  that  you  were  here  now,  that  you 
might  be  taken  by  John  to  see  Jesus:  for  from 
what  he  says  he  will  not  long  remain  visible 
among  us.  Whither  he  goeth  or  how  he  goeth 
away,  no  man  can  say.  We  are  filled  with  ex- 
pectation of  some  great  event,  which  will  con- 
clude the  brilliant  and  wonderful  succession  of 
marvels,  that  attend  his  foot-steps  and  presence 
on  earth. 

Faithfully,  your  loving  daughter, 

ADINA. 


LETTER   XXXIX. 

Bethany,  Forty  Days  after  the  \ 
Resurrection,  j 

Dear  Father: — with  emotions  that  nearly  de- 
prive me  of  the  power  to  hold  my  pen,  and  with 
trembling  fingers  that  make  the  words  I  write 
almost  illegible,  I  sit  down  to  make  known  to 
you  the  extraordinary  event,  which  will  mark 
this  day  in  all  future  time  as  the  most  worthy  to 
be  noted  among  men. 

In  my  last  I  informed  you  that  Jesus  after  his 
wonderful  resurrection,  which  was  declared  to 
all  men  by  infallible  proofs,  gathered  once  more 
Us  amazed  and  adoring  disciples  about  him, 
and  taught  them,  with  more  than  mortal  wisdom 
and  eloquence,  the  great  truths  appertaining  to 
his  kingdom,  which  he  now  appointed  them  to 
extend  throughout  all  the  world. 

On  the  fortieth  day,  my  dear  father,  early  in 
the  morning,  he  left  the  house  of  Mary  and 
Lazarus,  where  he  had  sat  up  with  us  all  night, 


£12          THE   PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

(for  none  of  us  thought  of  sleep  within  the  sound 
of  his  heavenly  voice),  speaking  to  us  of  the 
glories  of  heaven,  and  the  excellency  of  heart  and 
purity  of  life  required  of  all  who  should  enter  it. 

"Lord,"  said  Martha,  as  he  went  forth, 
"whither  goest  thou?" 

''Come  and  see,"  he  answered.  "Whither  I 
go  ye  shall  know,  and  the  way  ye  shall  know: 
for  where  I  am  ye  shall  also  be,  and  all  those 
who  believe  in  me." 

"Lord,"  said  Mary,  kneeling  at  his  feet,  "re- 
turn at  noon,  and  remain  with  us  during  the  heat 
of  the  day." 

"Mary,"  said  Jesus,  laying  his  hand  gently 
upon  her  forehead,  "I  am  going  to  my  Father's 
house!  There  thou  shalt  one  day  dwell  with  me 
in  mansions  not  made  with  hands.  Follow  me, 
and  thou  shalt  know  the  way  thither!  Through 
temptation  I  have  first  trodden  it,  through  suffer- 
ing, through  death,  and  through  resurrection 
from  the  dead.  So  also  must  thou  and  all  who 
love  me  follow  me.  To  my  friends,  the  gate  of 
the  tomb  opens  into  the  world  of  life  eternal." 

Thus  speaking,  he  walked  slowly  onward 
towards  the  hill  of  Bethany,  not  far  from  the 
place  where  Lazarus  was  buried.  He  was  fol- 
lowed not  only  by  Mary,  Martha,  Lazarus,  and 
John,  my  cousin  Mary  and  myself,  each  of  us  ex- 
pecting from  his  words  and  manner,  some  new 
and  great  event  to  take  place;  but  by  all  the  disci- 
ples, who  had  presently  joined  him  near  the 
cemetery,  at  the  foot  of  the  hill.  There  were  at 
least  five  hundred  persons  in  all,  moving  on  with 
him  ere  he  reached  the  green  hill-side  beyoncl 


THE   PUIXCE   OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   DAVID.  5  IS 

the  village;  for  all  followed  him,  expecting  to 
hear  more  glorious  revelations  from  his  lips  of 
the  life  beyond  this. 

"He  goes  to  the  hill  to  pray,"  said  one  of  his 
disciples. 

"Nay,"  said  Peter,  "he  prays  not  since  his 
resurrection  as  before.  He  has  no  need  of 
prayer  for  himself,  who  has  conquered  sin, 
Satan,  death,  the  grave  and  the  world!" 

"He  goeth  to  show  us  some  mighty  miracler 
from  the  expression  of  power  and  majesty  in  his 
aspect,"  said  Thomas  to  me,  gazing  upon  the 
Lord  with  awe;  for  each  moment  as  he  ascended 
the  hill,  his  countenance  grew  more  glorious  with 
a  certain  God-like  majesty,  and  shone  like  the 
face  of  Moses  descending  from  Mount  Sinai. 
We  all  hung  back  with  adoring  fear,  and  alone 
he  proceeded  onward,  a  wide  space  being  left  by 
us  between  ourselves  and  him.  Yet  there  was 
no  terror  in  the  glory  which  surrounded  and 
shined  out  from  him ;  but  rather  a  holy  radiance, 
that  seemed  to  be  the  very  light  of  holiness  and 
peace. 

"So  looked  he,"  said  John  to  us,  "when  we  be- 
held him  transfigured  in  the  mount  with  Elias 
and  Moses." 

The  hill,  which  is  not  lofty,  was  soon  sur- 
mounted by  his  sacred  feet.  He  stood  upon  its 
apex  alone.  We  kept  back  near  the  brow  of  the 
hill,  fearing  to  approach  him,  for  his  raiment 
shone  now  like  the  sun,  while  his  countenance 
was  as  lightning.  We  shaded  our  eyes  to  be- 
hold him.  All  was  now  expectation,  and  look- 
ing for  same  mighty  event — what  we  knew  not! 


614          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID. 

John  drew  nearest  to  him,  and  upon  bis  knees, 
with  clasped  hands  looked  towards  him  earn- 
estly ;  for  h6  knew,  as  he  afterwards  told  us,  what 
would  take  place;  Jesus  having  informed  him  the 
night  before.  Joy  and  yet  tears  were  on  his 
face,  as  he  gazed  with  blinded  eyes,  as  one  gazes 
on  the  noon-day  sun,  upon  his  Divine  Master. 
It  was  a  scene,  dear  father,  impressive  beyond 
expression.  The  hill-top  was  thronged  with  an 
expectant,  awe-stricken  multitude,  which  knew 
not  whether  to  remain  or  fly  from  the  glorious 
majesty  of  the  presence  of  the  Son  of  God.  The 
blue  sky  spread  out  its  illimitable  concave  above 
the  hills  without  a  cloud.  At  {he  foot  of  the 
eminence  towards  the  holy  city,  slept  the  gardens 
of  Gethsemane,  where  Jesus  loved  to  walk,  and 
where  he  was  arrested.  Jerusalem,  with  its 
towers,  pinnacles,  palaces,  and  gorgeous  Temple, 
glittered  in  the  distance;  and  Calvary,  studded 
with  fresh  Roman  crosses,  stood  out  boldly  in 
view,  in  the  transparent  air.  The  tall  cypresses 
which  grew  above  the  tomb  of  Joseph,  where  he 
had  lain,  were  also  visible.  Jesus  seemed  for  a 
moment  to  survey  these  scenes  of  his  suffering, 
of  his  ignominy  and  death,  with  the  look  of  a 
divine  conqueror.  He  then  turned  to  his  disci- 
ples and  said: — 

"Ye  have  been  with  me  in  my  sorrows,  and 
you  now  shall  behold  my  glory,  and  the  reward 
which  my  Father  doth  give  me.  To-day  I  take 
leave  of  you  and  ascend  to  my  Father  and  your 
Father.  Remember  all  things  which  I  have 
taught  you  concerning  my  kingdom.  Go  forth 
and  teach  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  all  men, 


THE   PRINCE    OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.  515 

and  baptize  all  nations  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost;  and  lo, 
I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world." 

Thus  speaking,  in  a  voice  that  thrilled  every 
bosom  with  emotions  indescribable,  he  extended 
his  hands  above  their  heads  and  blessed  them, 
while  we  all  fell  upon  our  faces  to  the  ground, 
also  to  receive  his  blessing. 

He  then  lifted  up  his  eyes  to  the  calm  blue 
depths  of  heaven,  and  said: — 

"And  now,  O  Father,  glorify  thou  me  with 
thine  own  self,  with  the  glory  which  I  had  with 
Thee  before  the  world  was !" 

As  he  spoke,  we  raised  our  faces  from  the 
ground,  and  saw  him  leaving  the  earth,  rising 
from  the  hill-top  into  the  air,  with  a  slow  and 
majestic  ascension;  his  hands  outspread  over  us 
beneath,  as  if  shedding  down  blessings  upon  us 
all.  The  loud  burst  of  surprise  which  rose  from 
five  hundred  voices  at  seeing  him  soar  away  into 
the  atmosphere,  was  followed  by  a  profound  and 
awful  silence,  as  we  watched  him  rise  and  still 
rise,  ascending  and  still  ascending  into  the  upper 
air,  his  whole  form  growing  brighter  and 
brighter,  as  the  distance  widened  between  his 
feet  and  the  earth ! 

Upon  our  knees,  in  speechless  amazement,  we 
followed  his  ascent  with  our  eyes,  not  a  word 
being  spoken  by  any  soul ;  and  hearts  might  have 
been  heard  beating  in  the  intense  expectation  of 
the  moment. 

Then  in  the  far  off  height  of  heaven,  we  be- 
held appear  a  bright  cloud,  no  larger  than  a  man's 


516         THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OP  DAVID. 

hand,  but  each  instant  it  expanded  and  grew 
broader  and  brighter,  and  swift  as  the  winged 
lightning,  it  descended  through  the  firmament 
downward,  until  we  beheld  it  evolve  itself  into  a 
glittering  host  of  angels,  which  no  man  could 
number,  countless  as  the  stars  of  heaven.  As 
these  shining  legions  descended,  they  parted  into 
two  bands,  and  sweeping  along  the  air,  met  the 
ascending  Son  of  God  in  the  mid  sky!  The  rush- 
ing of  their  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand 
wings,  was  heard  like  the  sound  of  many  waters. 
Surrounding  Jesus,  like  a  shining  cloud,  they  re- 
ceived him  into  their  midst,  and  hid  him  from 
our  eyes,  amid  the  glories  of  their  celestial 
splendor. 

While  we  stood  gazing  up  into  the  far  skies, 
hoping,  expecting,  yet  doubting  if  we  should 
ever  behold  him  again,  two  bright  stars  seemed 
to  be  descending  from  the  height  of  heaven 
towards  us.  In  a  few  seconds  we  saw  that  they 
were  angels.  Alighting  on  the  place  Jesus  had 
left,  they  said  to  the  eleven,  "Why  gaze  ye  up 
into  heaven,  ye  men  of  Galilee?  This  same  Jesus 
whom  ye  have  seen  go  into  heaven,  shall  so  come 
in  like  manner  as  ye  have  now  seen  him  ascend  1" 
Thus  speaking,  they  vanished  out  of  our  sight! 


The  above  account,  my  dear  father,  of  the 
ascent  yesterday  into  heaven  of  the  Christ,  our 
Blessed  Lord  Jesus,  I  wrote  the  same  evening, 
while  all  the  circumstances  were  present  and 
vivid  upon  my  mind.  Oh,  what  a  sublime  spec- 
tacle! What  human  language  can  describe  itt 


THE  PRINCE   OF  TIIE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID.          517 

But  one  thing  I  have  presented  clearly  to  you, 
dear  father,  and  that  is  the  fact  that  Jesus  has 
ascended  into  the  heaven  of  heavens!  Oh,  amaz- 
ing reality!  Overwhelming  truth!  What,  oh 
what  is  earth? — What  is  Judea? — What  is  man? 
— that  God  is  mindful  of  Him — that  He  should 
so  have  visited  him!  And  when  He  has  visited 
us — when  His  Divine  Son,  the  brightness  of  the 
glory  of  the  Father,  has  descended  to  earth,  and 
assumed  our  nature,  to  reconcile  us  to  God,  and 
obtain  an  eternal  life  for  us,  how  has  He  been  re- 
ceived? Shunned  for  his  voluntary  poverty — 
despised  for  his  humble  human  parentage — hated 
for  his  holiness — tried  before  tribunals  for  crimes 
unknown  to  him — scourged  and  spit  upon, 
mocked,  and  buffeted,  and  crucified  with  thieves, 
as  if  his  enemies  would  render  his  death  as  ig- 
nominious as  it  was  capable  of  being  made! 

But  behold  the  issue!  See,  when  he  had  paid 
the  debt  of  death  for  us,  the  change  in  all  things! 
He  awakes  to  life!  He  bursts  the  tomb!  He 
•walks  forth  from  the  sepulchre!  Angels  are  his 
servants!  After  forty  days  on  earth,  unfolding 
to  his  disciples  the  mysteries  of  his  gospel  and 
the  splendor  of  his  kingdom,  he  ascends  visibly 
to  heaven  at  mid-day  from  Bethany,  in  the  sight 
of  many  hundreds,  and  is  escorted  by  armies  of 
angels  to  the  right  hand  of  the  majesty  on  high! 

Such,  my  dear  father,  is  the  appropriate  crown- 
ing event  of  the  extraordinary  life  of  Jesus,  both 
Lord  and  Christ!  His  ascent  from  this  earth 
into  the  heaven  of  heavens,  not  only  is  proof  that 
He  came  from  God,  but  that  God  is  well-pleased 
with  all  that  He  has  done  in  the  flesh.  If  in  any 


t>18          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  DAVID. 

one  thing  He  taught,  He  spoke  what  was  not 
true,  either  concerning  the  Father  or  concerning 
himself,  he  would  not  have  received  such  a  wel- 
come back  to  the  heavenly  abodes!  All  that 
Jesus  said  of  himself  is  therefore  true!  Jehovah 
attests  it!  We  must  then  believe,  or  we  can  have 
no  interest  in  the  kingdom  which  He  has  gone  to 
prepare  for  us,  and  which  we  can  enter  only  as 
He  has  traveled  through  it,  through  humiliation, 
suffering,  death,  the  tomb,  resurrection,  and  also 
ascension!  Thus  did  he  truly  say,  "The  way  I 
go  ye  shall  know!" 

His  kingdom  is  therefore,  my  dear  father, 
clearly  not  of  this  world,  as  he  said  to  Pilate,  the 
Procurator;  but  it  is  above.  To  it  he  has 
triumphantly  ascended,  attended  by  legions  of 
Cherubim  and  Seraphim,  an  ascent  which  David 
clearly  foresaw  in  vision,  when  he  wrote: 

"God  has  gone  up  with  a  shout,  he  has  as- 
cended on  High!" 

Doubt,  then,  no  longer,  dearest  father!  Jesus, 
the  son  of  Mary  in  His  human  nature,  was  the 
Son  of  God  in  His  Divine  nature;  an  incompre- 
hensible and  mysterious  union,  whereby  he  has 
brought  together  in  harmony  the  two  natures, 
separated  far  apart  by  sin,  by  sacrificing  His  own 
body  as  a  sin-offering,  to  reconcile  both  in  one 
Immaculate  body  upon  the  cross.  There  is  now 
no  more  condemnation  to  them  who  believe  in 
Him  and  accept  Him;  for  in  His  body  He  took 
our  sins,  and  with  his  precious  blood,  as  that  of  a 
lamb  without  blemish,  cleansed  them  forever 
awav. 
VBut  I  cannot  write  all  I  would  say  to  you,  dear- 


THE  PRINCE   OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  DAVID.  519 

est  father.  When  we  meet,  which  you  rejoice  me 
in  saying,  will  be  on  the  first  day  of  the  week,  at 
Jerusalem,  I  will  unfold  to  you  all  that  the  divine 
and  glorified  Jesus  has  taught  me.  Doubt  not 
that  He  is  Messias.  Hesitate  not  to  accept  Him; 
for  He  is  the  end  of  Moses,  and  of  the  Law,  and 
of  the  Prophets,  the  very  Shiloh  who  should 
come  and  restore  all  things,  to  whom  be  glory,, 
power  dominion,  majesty,  and  excellency  ever* 
more. 

Your  loving  daughter, 

ADINA. 


[Here  terminates  the  series  of  letters  of  the 
Jewish  maiden  to  her  father,  written  during  the 
Procuratorship  of  Pontius  Pilate,  under  the  reign 
of  Tiberius  Caesar,  the  Roman  Emperor.  They 
cover  a  period  of  three  years  and  six  months,  em- 
bracing all  the  events  of  the  Life  of  John  the 
Baptist,  and  of  the  Holy  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  to 
the  day  of  His  ascension  into  heaven. 

The  Roman  Centurion,  ^milius,  it  would  ap- 
pear from  history,  became  Procurator  of  the 
Island  of  Britain  in  the  West,  and  with  Adina, 
his  noble  lady,  was  the  first  to  entertain  the 
Christian  Apostle,  Saul  of  Tarsus,  otherwise 
Paulus,  on  his  visit  thither  to  proclaim  at  those 
ends  ol  the  earth  the  gospel  of  Jesus  the  Cruci- 
fied, in  obedience  to  the  command  left  by  Him 
with  His  disciples,  that  they  should  preach  His 
gospel  to  every  creature. 


520          THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  IU.VU). 

The  history  of  the  first  establishment  of  the 
faith  of  Jesus  in  this  remote  Roman  barbaric 
Province  by  the  Jewish  Apostle,  and  of  its  spread 
throughout  the  island,  are  to  be  found  written  in 
detail  in  certain  letters,  which  the  daughter  of 
./Emilius  and  of  Adina  wrote  to  her  brother,  a 
Roman  knight  at  Rome] . 

Endorsement  upon  the  original  Letters  of 
Adina  by  the  Roman  Jewish  Scribe, 

ELIAS  BEN  EZRA. 


Ella  Wheeler  Wilcojc 


•POEMS  of 


The  most  note'!  and  helpful  po- 
etical work  of  this  famous  writer 
is  here  collected  in  popular  form 
in  a  suitable  binding  for  birthday 
or  holiday  presentations,  or  for  ta- 
ble or  library.  Stamping  done  in 
light  green  upon  dark  over  special 
design  in  gold. 

Among  the  "POEMS  OF  REFLEC- 
TION," a  few  may  be  named,  as  fol 
lows:  Penalty,  Life,  Lines  from 
"Maurine,"  When,  Only  Dreams, 
"In  the  Night,"  Content  ment, 
Mother's  Loss,  The  Women,  ''Vam- 
pires, "Dying,  The  King  and  Siren, 
Sunshine  and  Shadow,  "Whatever 
is,—  is  Best,"  Worldly  Wisdom.  My 
Comrade,  So  Long  in  Coming,  Per- 
ished, The  Belle's  Soliloquy,  My 
Vision,  Dream  Time,  The  Belle  of 
the  Season,  Joy,  Bird  of  Hope,  A  Golden  Day,  Fading,  All  the 
World,  Old,  Daft,  Hung,  When  I  am  Dead,  Ghosts,  Out  of  the 
Depths,  Mistakes,  Presumption,  Song  of  the  Spirit,  A  Dream, 
Dying,  Our  Angel.  This  book  is  poetical  inspiration  of  the  high- 
est order  for  sustaining  and  strengthening  the  heart  and  mind 
for  the  disappointments,  vicissitudes  and  achievements  of  life. 

F»RICJ3     TS    CENTS 

Of  Love,   by  Ella  Wheeler   Wiicox. 

A  beautiful  book—  companion  to  "Poems  of  Reflection." 
The  following  is  a  selection  from  a  few  of  the  poems  in  the 
POEMS  OF  LOVE:  Sweet  Danger,  A  Fatal  Impress,  Love,  I  Will 
be  True,  The  Kingdom  of  Love,  Love  will  Wane,  A  Maiden's 
Secret,  Lines  from  "Maurine."  This  book  is  handsomely  bound 
in  the  style  of  Poems  and  Reflections. 

CLOTH,     F»RICE     "7  5     CEJNTS 

Sweet    Danger,   by  Ella  Wheeler   Wiicox. 

This  popular  author  tells  the  story  of  love  in  this  book  as 
it  has  never  been  elsewhere  told. 

GL.-OTH.     F»RICE     7  S     CENTS 

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CHICAGOi 


EUGENE  FIELD 


THE  CLINK  OF  THE  IGb 

And  Other  Poems  Worth  Reading 
BY  EUGENE  FIELD 

Edition  containing  autograph 
and  including  stories  ol  inimitable 
wit  and  humor,  with  lullabies  and 
sketches  of  every-day  scenes  that 
made  the  writer  famous.  Among 
them  are:  Sister's  Cake,  Mrs. 
Reilly's  Peaches,  Seein'  Thins:*, 
The  Rime  of  the  Crow  Eater,  Lul- 
labies from  many  Lands,  The  Two 
Little  Skeezucks,  The  Stork,  the 
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HOOSIER  LYRICS, 

By  EUGENE  FIELD 
Companion  booK  to  "The  Clink 
of  the  Ice."  This  is  a  series  of  pathe- 
tic, amusing  and  entertaining  poems  in  Indiana  dialect  on  not- 
able Hoosier  scenes,  containing  Eugene  Field's  parodies  on  many 
of  James  Whitcomb  Riley's  poems.  The  following  are  a  few  titles 
from  the  many :  "Gettin"  On,"  "Minnie  Lee,"  "Lizzie,"  "Our  Lady 
of  *be,  Mine",  etc.  PRICE,  CLOTH,  75  CENTS. 

IN  WINK-A-WAY  LAND,  by  Eugene  Field. 

Companion  book  to  "The  Clink  of  the  Ice,"  specially  selectee 
and  arranged  for  the  little  folks.  Among  the  poems  may  be  men- 
lioned  the  following:  "The  Bottle  Tree,"  "The  Sugar  Plum  Tree," 
"New  Year's  Eve,"  "Buttercup,"  "Poppy  and  Forget-Me-Not." 
"Little  Henry's  Slate,"  "The  Dream  Ship."  "The  Boy,"  "Lady 
Button-Eyes,"  "Teeny- Weeny,"  "Pitty-Pat  and  Tippy-Toe,"  "The 
Dinkey  Bird,"  "Fiddle- Dee-Dee,"  "Good Children  Street,"  "Booh," 
"Intry-Mintry,"  "Hi-Spy,"  etc.  PRICE,  CLOTH,  75  CTS. 

JOHN  SMITH,  U.  S.  A.,  by  Eugene  Field. 

The  romantic  poetry-story  of  John  Smith  also  includes  many 
Other  poema  of  which  the  following  are  a  few  of  the  titles:  "The 
Bottle  and  the  Bird,"  "The  Blue  and  the  Gray,"  "Summer  Heat," 
"A  Missouri  Coon  in  the  Berlin  Zoological  Gardens,"  "The  Taylor 
Pup,"  "The  Tin  Bank,"  "In  New  Orleans,"  "The  Peter  Bird," 
"^bdin's  Ghost,"  etc.  PRICE,  CLOTH,  75  CENTS 

M,  A.  DONOHUE  &  CO. 

407-429  Dearborn  btreet.  CHICAGO, 


DATE  DUE 


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